The Minister said that what is most important is not the amount of money the journalists receive to follow a course under the programme, but the knowledge and skills they will acquire to create a developed media culture.

100 awardees selected from Journalists, serving in recognized electronic and print media institutions on full-time or part-time basis as well as freelance journalists will be awarded scholarships under this programme at the ceremony to be held on Friday (18).

The journalists could select Post Graduate Courses, short and long term Certificate Courses and Diploma Courses conducted by local Universities and government higher education and training institutions under this scholarship scheme.

Also, a course fee to follow Post Graduate, Diploma and Certificate courses ewill be made by the Ministry subject to a maximum of Rs. 100,000/- on the basis of non-recovery under this annual scholarship programme.

Ministry Seccretary Vajira Narampanawa and media heads will participate at this ceremony.

The objective of the project is to encourage and to provide opportunities for journalists to improve their professional skills through training programmes in order to face the challenges of the 21st century.