Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06COLOMBO159
2006-01-27 06:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKAN NOMINEES FOR EDWARD R. MURROW PROGRAM
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 270615Z Jan 06
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 COLOMBO 000159
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ECA/PE/V/N-COLLEEN FLEMING/ERICKA DIGGINS;
SA/PD
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL KPAO OEXC
SUBJECT: SRI LANKAN NOMINEES FOR EDWARD R. MURROW PROGRAM
FOR JOURNALISTS, SA, APRIL 3-21, 2006
REF: STATE 224120
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 COLOMBO 000159
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ECA/PE/V/N-COLLEEN FLEMING/ERICKA DIGGINS;
SA/PD
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL KPAO OEXC
SUBJECT: SRI LANKAN NOMINEES FOR EDWARD R. MURROW PROGRAM
FOR JOURNALISTS, SA, APRIL 3-21, 2006
REF: STATE 224120
¶1. Post nominates Ms. Zainab Ibrahim, Assistant Editor,
Lanka Business Online, as principal nominee, and Ms. Namini
Wijedasa, Assistant Editor, Sunday Island, and Ms. Dilshani
Samaraweera, Senior Business Journalist, Lanka Business
Online, as first and second alternate nominees
respectively, for participation in the subject program.
Post confirms that these nominations have FULL COUNTRY TEAM
APPROVAL.
¶2. Nominations are as follow:
START FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT):
: The following data is in a fixed format which enables
: automated processing in Washington and should not be
: edited except by means of the Post-EVDB software.
EXPORT-SOURCE: POST-EVDB
VERSION: 3.0.7
POST-EMAIL: tilakawardenac@state.gov
TRANSMITTING-POST: PAS Colombo
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID: 2929
EXPORT-TYPE: BIO DATA
START NOMINATION:
ECA-OFFICE: E/VGN
PROG-AGENCY-NAME:
POST-PROJ-ID: 194
ECA-PROJ-NO:
PROJ-NAME: Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists, SA -
April 3-21, 2006
START MEMO PROJ-DESC:
END MEMO PROJ-DESC:
PROJ-TYPE: Regional
PROG-TYPE: IV Grant Visitor
FY: 2006
DEPART-POST: 4/1/2006
SESSION-DATE: 4/3/2006
RETURN-POST: 4/24/2006
NO-OF-PART: 3
RANK-ORDER: 0
START MEMO POST-OBJ:
This nomination is in support of MPP goal "Supporting
Democratic System and Practices."
END MEMO POST-OBJ:
START MEMO POST-RCMD:
END MEMO POST-RCMD:
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1039
PROG-AGENCY-ID:
PROJ-TYPE-ID: RP
PROG-TYPE-ID: 29
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 2929
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID:
STATUS: N
ORIGINATOR: P
SUBJ-DISC: Electronic Publications
START BIO:
PREFIX: Ms.
F-NAME: Zainab
M-NAME:
L-NAME: IBRAHIM
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 622
PRINCIPAL?: Yes
M-ADDR1: 37 Auburn Side
M-ADDR2:
M-ADDR3:
M-CITY: Dehiwela
M-STATE:
M-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
M-ZONE:
M-ZIP:
M-PHONE: (94-11) 273-4003
M-FAX:
M-EMAIL:
M-CNTRY-ID: CE
M-ADDRTYPE: H
GENDER: F
DOB: 12/18/1983
MAR-STAT: S
BIRTH-CITY: Dubai
BIRTH-CNTRY: United Arab Emirates
CITIZ-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
RES-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
START MEMO POSITION:
Assistant Editor, Lanka Business Online, February 2005 to
date
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
2000-January 2005 - Reporter, Lanka Business Online,
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
None
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
Dubai, UAE - 1983-85, lived with parents
India - 2004 (two weeks),holiday
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sri Lanka
Foundation Institute, 2001
Diploma in International Affairs, Bandaranaike Centre for
International Studies, 2003
Final Year - Bachelor of Science Degree, Open University of
Sri Lanka
END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: Tamil
ENGL-READ: 4
ENGL-SPEAK: 4
ENGL-COMP: 4
START OTHER-LANGS:
OTHER-LANG: Sinhala
OTHER-LANG-ID: SI
READ: 3
SPEAK: 3
COMP: 3
END OTHER-LANGS:
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
This nomination is in support of MPP goal "Supporting
Democratic System and Practices."
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:
END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:
END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Philip A. Frayne
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
Zainab Ibrahim is one of Sri Lanka?s most serious and
committed young journalists. At Embassy press conferences,
Zainab is always the best prepared and asks the most
pertinent questions. She contributes balanced and timely
pieces to Lanka Business Online, one of the most sought-
after commercial news sources in Sri Lanka. Zainab
displays maturity beyond her years, and will certainly rise
to the top of her profession with additional experience.
Participation in this program will enable Ms. Ibrahim to
better hone her already good reporting skills.
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: PD
SPEAKER?: No
NOTIFY-EMB: Yes
MEDIA?: No
HOME-STAY: No
HOME-HOSP?: Yes
E-I-TYPE:
NOMINEE-ID: 267
PERSON-ID: 280
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: TC
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CE
RES-CNTRY-ID: CE
FIRST-LANG-ID: TC
E-I-TYPE-ID:
NOM-POST-ID: 2929
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID:
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT: 09.0401
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1: DOS
USGOVT-AGENCY1: DOS
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 8000
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT: 5
END BIO:
START BIO:
PREFIX: Ms.
F-NAME: Namini
M-NAME: Nimilamalee
L-NAME: WIJEDASA
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 622
PRINCIPAL?: No
GENDER: F
DOB: 10/25/1976
MAR-STAT: M
BIRTH-CITY: Colombo
BIRTH-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
CITIZ-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
RES-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
START MEMO POSITION:
Assistant Editor, Sunday Island, 2001 to date
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
Stringer for NHK (Nihon Hoso Kyokai),Japan, 2001 to date
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
2000-2001 - Correspondent, Associated Press
1998-2000 - News Editor, Midweek Mirror/Daily Mirror
1994-1998 - Journalist, The Island
1996-99 - Freelanced as a news presenter/reporter for
Capital Radio Colombo
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
2003 (two months) - Recipient of Dag Hammarskjold
Fellowship of the UN Correspondents' Association
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
Malta - 2005 - To cover Commonwealth Heads of Government
meeting
Berlin, Germany - December 2005 - Represented Sri Lanka at
an international conference organize by Friedrich Ebert
Stiftung
London, U.K. - 2004 - Intern, Communications and Public
Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat
France - 1999 ? Three-month holiday
European Countries - 1990 - Holiday
Bahrain - 1982-91 - Lived with parents
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts, University of Kelaniya, 2003
END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
Contributed several articles to 'LMD,' 'Business Today,'
(English monthly magazines) and 'Femina' (English monthly
women's magazine)
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: Sinhala
ENGL-READ: 4
ENGL-SPEAK: 4
ENGL-COMP: 4
START OTHER-LANGS:
OTHER-LANG: French
OTHER-LANG-ID: FR
READ: 3
SPEAK: 3
COMP: 3
END OTHER-LANGS:
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
This nomination is in support of MPP goal "Supporting
Democratic System and Practices."
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:
END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:
END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Philip A. Frayne
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
Namini Wijedasa is known in media circles for asking the
important, challenging questions. Unlike many of her
peers, she will not take a press release at face value; she
returns to multiple sources for clarification and
perspective in her stories for the English-language Island.
Her dynamic English expression and commitment to
investigative journalism have carried her far, despite her
young age. She stands out clearly as one of the elite,
bright journalists of Sri Lanka.
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: PD
SPEAKER?: No
NOTIFY-EMB: Yes
MEDIA?: No
HOME-STAY: No
HOME-HOSP?: Yes
E-I-TYPE:
NOMINEE-ID: 268
PERSON-ID: 281
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CE
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CE
RES-CNTRY-ID: CE
FIRST-LANG-ID: SI
E-I-TYPE-ID:
NOM-POST-ID: 2929
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID:
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT: 09.0401
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1: DOS
USGOVT-AGENCY1: DOS
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 8000
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT: 5
END BIO:
START BIO:
PREFIX: Ms.
F-NAME: Dilshani
M-NAME:
L-NAME: SAMARAWEERA
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 622
PRINCIPAL?: No
M-ADDR1: 15 Prof. Ediriweera Sarathchandra Mawatha
M-ADDR2: Epitamulla Road
M-ADDR3:
M-CITY: Pitakotte
M-STATE:
M-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
M-ZONE:
M-ZIP:
M-PHONE: (94-77) 726-9708
M-FAX:
M-EMAIL: dilsh100@yahoo.co.uk
M-CNTRY-ID: CE
M-ADDRTYPE: B
GENDER: F
DOB: 09/11/1975
MAR-STAT: S
BIRTH-CITY: Colombo
BIRTH-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
CITIZ-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
RES-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
START MEMO POSITION:
Senior Business Journalist, Lanka Business Online, 2003 to
date
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
2001-2003 - Senior business reporter for news desk and
features desk, The Business Standard
1997-2000 - Freelance journalist
1994-1997 - Journalist, Sunday Leader
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
None
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
Brussels, Belgium - one week, 2005 - Workshop organized by
European Commission
Geneva, Switzerland - 10 days, 2005 - Attended workshop
organized by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Nepal - one week, 2005 - WTO journalists meeting
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level)
Examination, Methodist College, Colombo, 1994
Diploma course, Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) UK,
2000
Followed FOJO (Institute for Further Education for
Journalists, Sweden) course held in Colombo in
collaboration with the Sri Lanka Press Institute, September
2004
END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: Sinhala
ENGL-READ: 4
ENGL-SPEAK: 4
ENGL-COMP: 4
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
This nomination is in support of MPP goal "Supporting
Democratic System and Practices."
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:
END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:
END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Philip A. Frayne
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
Dilshani Samaraweera is an eloquent English-language
reporter who exhibits professionalism far above most of her
peers as a reporter for Lanka Business Online. Her
products are measured and well informed, and she is often
the first in Colombo to break many stories, even those
unrelated to the business sector. Always sharp and self-
motivated, she is well placed to share her reporting skills
with peers. Post considers Dilshani to be a future leader
in the Sri Lankan media.
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: PD
SPEAKER?: No
NOTIFY-EMB: Yes
MEDIA?: No
HOME-STAY: No
HOME-HOSP?: Yes
E-I-TYPE:
NOMINEE-ID: 269
PERSON-ID: 282
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CE
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CE
RES-CNTRY-ID: CE
FIRST-LANG-ID: SI
E-I-TYPE-ID:
NOM-POST-ID: 2929
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID:
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT: 09.0401
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1: DOS
USGOVT-AGENCY1: DOS
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 8000
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT: 5
END BIO:
END NOMINATION:
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT:
¶3. Please advise acceptance of these nominations.
Lunstead