PRATHIBA MEDIA NETWORK- PMN
Introduction
Prathiba Media Network (PMN) is an organization engaged in the process of community development through the use of media. It was initially started in 2008 by a group of twenty-five young people and school students living in Matara district of Sri Lanka who were interested in using the media but were looking for opportunities for it. In 2011, it became an organization registered as a Voluntary Social Service / Non-Governmental Organization at the Kamburupitiya Divisional Secretariat for the first time. By 2024, it will have completed 16 years of continuous service.
The activities of the organization are being carried out to bring a better quality of life to the marginalized communities living in remote and rural areas of Sri Lanka. Also, it is dedicated and active as an organization to raise the living conditions and economic conditions of the qualified rural youth who are looking forward to work for the first time by creating job opportunities within the organization. Prathiba Media Network is also open at any time for internship training opportunities for students studying in various universities and vocational training institutes….
In the past 16 years, Prathiba Media Network has been operating in the Southern, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka using innovative media approaches to secure civil rights and uplift their economic conditions.
During the initial years of the institute, a youth training center was established in Matara district for the first time, and rural school students were able to implement training programs on information technology, English language, use of social media and media education. Also, special programs were implemented to provide accurate information about sexual and reproductive health in the communities of South and Uva Province, among which the main task was to produce and broadcast radio programs and train local journalists. Also, in the past period, Prathiba Media Network has implemented various programs such as promoting peace and reconciliation through media approaches, developing awareness in rural communities about the Transitional Justice process, improving the use of media among citizens, building public organizations regarding community problems and their solutions, implementing mobile services to solve public problems by getting closer to government institutions, empowering the youth community for media practices, implementing programs that train school students on leadership and correct media practices, improving social media literacy in the grassroots community, educating and guiding the community through media approaches to prevent domestic abuse and violence against women and girls and improving public trust in civil society organizations operating at the ground level in Sri Lanka as well as responding to emergency situations.
Prathiba Media Network has also been able to win various national and international awards for the successful results obtained through the activities carried out.
Prathiba Media Network maintains close relationships with media organizations, civil society members, religious leaders, government officials, local journalists, civil society organizations, women and youth across the country. A large community network at ground level has been built through Prathiba Media Network. In particular, media literacy clubs are established and continued at the rural level with the aim of furthering the activities of the institution to the grassroots level. In recent times, civil society and government officials have been consulted to combat human trafficking and promote safe migration, community empowerment for conflict resolution, and a media school has been established and run for school students and young people with media skills.
In the past decade, it has been implemented with the support of many local and international NGOs, funders, local private companies and donors. Prathiba Media Network's main goal for the next 05 years is to improve citizens' access to media through community journalism. Through that, providing the necessary support, guidance and encouragement to achieve their expectations and goals. Based on the experience gained in the last decade, PMN is working to create a strong community media practice in 2030 through a four-way approach from 202
VISION
A society empowered by the use of good media for community development.
MISSION
To facilitate the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes to bring about a positive transformation of the underprivileged community in the face of development through the use of multimedia approaches.
Key Objectives
Our Journey
2025
Starting a media school to promote media education.
2024
Establishment of rural media literacy clubs.
Development and implementation of the organization’s financial, transport and human resource management policies.
Starting Matara Media School for young people who are interested in getting media education.
Launch of cofm.lk website to strengthen community media practices and promote civil society activities.
Working in Matara and Hambantota districts as a partner organization in relation to the project of “Empowering Civil Society Organizations to combat Human Trafficking in Sri Lanka” with the support of USAID/ECCT.
Applying for registration as a national level organization at the National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organizations.
2023
Working in Matara and Hambantota districts as a partner organization in relation to the project of “Empowering Civil Society Organizations to combat Human Trafficking in Sri Lanka” with the support of USAID/ECCT.
Introducing, producing and disseminating Mawatha radio programs to educate the community against human trafficking.
2022
Obtaining registration as a company limited by guarantee with the Registrar of Companies Department.
Introducing and implementing the Community Journalism (COJO) training program to civil organizations through The Asia Foundation’s South Asia Grant Program (SAGP) to strengthen media approaches to promote the activities of grassroots civil organizations.
Introducing and launching CO TV – Community Television YouTube channel.
Development of media units of 50 civil organizations in South and Uva province.
Increased capacity development in the financial sector of Prathiba Media Network / Focusing on the use of technical approaches for financial administration / Training the staff for the same and conducting a study for the first time on organizational development.
To find solutions for the problems faced by the community, taking the forum theater method to the ground level.
Conducting the first youth media conference of Prathiba Media Network in Matara with the participation of 150 young people with the support of UNOPS.
2021
Being able to win the state award for the best radio talk show at the State Radio Awards ceremony for The Real Voice program.
Implementation of a project to improve public trust in civil society organizations operating at the ground level involving 70 civil organizations in South, Uva, Central and North Central Provinces with the support of USAID/IDEA.
2020
Introducing online methods to the institution to continuously implement, manage and direct the ongoing projects of the institution since it was a period of time during the Covid 19 epidemic. Through this, it has been possible to implement the projects of the institute without any hindrance and get successful results.
2019
Improving social understanding through the implementation of “The Real Voice (Sebe Handa) television program series by the coalition of all religious leaders to resolve the religious conflicts in the country.)
Implementation of projects with support from UNDP and USAID/IDEA.
2018
Introduction, initiation and implementation of Human Voice (Manusath Handa) radio and television programs to secure the rights of rural and Malayalam women.
Implementation of projects with support from UNDP and USAID/IDEA.
2017
Joining as a partner organization in the Memory Map project implemented by Search for Commend Ground (SFCG) based on Matara, Ampara and Mannar districts.
2016
Initiating project implementation with USAID support for the first time.
Initiation and implementation of “The Real Voice (Sebe Handa)” radio and television programs to enhance the use of media approaches to secure grassroots community rights.)
Increasing the number of staff members to 05 / working in connection with local and national level radio channels / developing the capacity of the institution.
2015
With the support of the World Division, implementation of a local radio broadcast at the school level in Thanamalwila, Puttalam, Bibila, Tissamaharamaya etc. and implementation of media training programs for school students / providing training to more than 500 school students.
2014
Coordinating the implementation of the iBusSL program implemented by the American Embassy in Colombo and the American Center in Matara, Ratnapura, Balangoda, Nivithigala, Hambantota, Kataragama, Sigiriya, Aheliyagoda and Anuradhapura districts.
Representing a special conference organized by IPPF in Bangkok, Thailand on the relationship between sexual and reproductive health and HIV.
2013
Opening of an office for Prathiba Media Network for the first time under the Youth Grant program of the American Embassy in Colombo and the American Center / Start of training programs on the use of social media, information technology and English language.
2012
Implementation of the “Suvasarani” project to educate the rural community and local journalists about the relationship between sexual and reproductive health and HIV with the support of FPA Srilanka and IPPF.
2011
Implementation of a community awareness health promotion program with the support of private trading companies to eliminate dengue fever and rat fever in Kamburupitiya and Mulatiyana Divisional Secretariats/ Working in conjunction with local radio channels.
Getting registered as a Voluntary Social Service/Non-Governmental Organization at Kamburupitiya Divisional Secretariat.
2010
Starting a community newspaper called Viparama to highlight the hidden stories of marginalized communities.
2009
Initiation of fund raising method by implementing trade promotion services called “Saknada” to raise funds for the existence of the organization.
2008
Starting the Prathiba Media Network under limited facilities under the leadership of 25 rural youth and school students in the Matara district.
Board of Directors
Mr. Indrajith Gamage
Chairman
Mr. Indrajith Gamage is a founding member of Prathiba Media Network. His role as a social activist and teacher is functional. He works as a district coordinator of a non-governmental organization working on drug prevention. Also works as a trainer and trained consultant on leadership, gender, drug prevention, child development, peace and reconciliation. Mr. Indrajith Gamage has more than 20 years of experience in grassroots civil society activities. He represents the Board of Directors as the Chairman of Prathiba Media Network.
Mr. Wijayananda Kadurupokuna
Director/ Treasurer
Mr. Wijayananda Kadurupokuna has worked as a business manager, project manager and chartered accountant by profession. More than 30 years of experience in civil society activities in local and international NGOs. Worked as a consultant for Southern Province Industrial Development Authority, Southern Provincial Development Authority, World University Service of Canada, Janasavi Trust Fund and Ministry of Rural Development in Southern Provincial. At present, he is working as a member of the governing board of the Matara Housing Rental Board of the Southern Provincial Housing Ministry. Representing the position of Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Prathiba Media Network, he supervises the accounting work and provides necessary guidance to the staff.
Mrs. Ramasami Dinesha Sewwandi
Director
Miss. Ramasami Dinesha Sewwandi is a social activist representing the Southern Malaiyaga Tamils community living in the Matugobey section of Deniyaya Ensalwatta estate. Studied higher education under commerce stream. She is currently working professionally as a district coordinator of a non-governmental organization that serves the mountain community. A nursing training course and early childhood development training courses have been completed. She represents the Board of Directors of Prathiba Media Network with the aim of raising social awareness through the media about the problems faced by the Malaiyaga Tamils community in the south who do not even understand their rights.
Mrs. Chathuri Samarasinghe
Director
Mrs. Chathuri Samarasinghe (LL.B Hons) Attorney -at- Law. A founding member of Prathiba Media Network. Has gained experience in implementing social activities using mass media. Presently, she represents the Board of Directors of Prathiba Media Network and provides policy and legal advice to the organization.
Miss. Krishani Madushika
Director
Miss. Krishani Madhushika is a graduate of the University of Peradeniya. Currently working as a teacher in a government school, professionally. A few years ago, she worked as a Project Officer at Prathiba Media Network, where she honed her professional skills. Trained in counseling. She has also received training on gender equality and has engaged in civil society activities in this regard. Also works as a trainer on peace and reconciliation, gender equality. Representing the Board of Directors of Prathiba Media Network, she is responsible for formulating and implementing gender equality policies, supervising and providing guidance on working with children.
Mr. Mohomed Jabir Ahamed Arthif
Director
Mr. Mohomed Jabir Ahamed Arthif who’s a graduate on BA Hons in Management & Leadership offered by University of Coventry UK affiliated with NIBM LK. He excelled his primary and secondary education at Rahula College Matara. Mr. Arthif is a professional who has an expertise and experience on areas such as Business Administration, HR, Operations, Logistics and Sales and Marketing. Mr. Arthif serves as an executive committee member in three different MUN organizations to organize and plan conferences where he empowers Sri Lankan youth to become diplomats who can effectively counter hate speech while promoting reconciliation. The project executed by him, demonstrate his capability of planning, organizing, leading and controlling the situations.
Key Staff
Mr. Chaminda Jayasekara -
Chief of Staff/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Mr. Chaminda Jayasekara is the CEO of Prathiba Media Network. He is also the founder who was instrumental in starting Prathiba Media Network in 2008. He is a media trainer and has experience in radio program production, moderation, media reporting and management since 2007. Serving as Co-National Director of Sri Lanka Unites from 2016-2022, he has dedicated himself to building transformative change in over 30,000 Sri Lankan youth. During the period 2013-2016, as the Manager of Sri Lanka Unites’ Matara Reconciliation Center, he provided the necessary leadership to develop the professional skills of over 4000 youth in Matara District.
In addition, he has served as a media trainer to government institutions such as University of Ruhuna and National Youth Service Council. Between 2007-2010 gained experience in media reporting activities for the welfare of war victims by working as Program Producer and Administrative Assistant at INTERNEWS Sri Lanka (INGO). Dedicated and active in securing the rights of rural people through alternative media approaches.