Who We Are

Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum (SDJF) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit and national level organization, registered as Lanka Development Journalist Forum under the Companies Act No.7 of 2007, as company limited by guarantee, and has been in operation since 2009. SDJF is an action based and learning organization having a dedicated staff and over 500 trained volunteers, young journalists and civil society members across the country to foster vibrant democracy and to reduce voice poverty of excluded and marginalized communities. Our approaches include; use of new media tools such as smartphone journalism, community storytelling, radio drama, forum theatre, cartoon, photography, doodling, etc., to make transformations that lead to social changes and long term development of the country. We do this by advocating, capacity building, mentoring, stewardship, internship, volunteering and community initiatives.

As a recognized development support agency, SDJF receives support from various donor organizations including USAID, the US Embassy, EU, UNFPA, CIDA, CEMCA, Taiwan Fund for Democracy, the Canadian Embassy, Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust (NTT) and Family Rehabilitation Centre (FRC) to implement various programs under its broader goal media-for-democratization, since 2009. Under its strategic priority areas, SDJF implemented several successful capacity-building programs on the use of community media tools; radio drama, video & short films, participatory storytelling, mobile storytelling to facilitate democratization and good governance in the post conflict setting of Sri Lanka.

SDJF has pioneered Mobile Journalism (MoJo) in Sri Lanka, and has trained over 100 young journalists and produced 150 powerful mobile stories. The stories produced through its numerous programs are disseminated among citizens by a dedicated on-line platform; iVoice.lk

our vision

A civil society where there is no voice poverty.

our mission

Advocate for democratic and pluralistic values, strengthen community media, and amplify the voice of the excluded, based on development communication principles.

Organizational Values

01. Diversity

We believe that diversity is the universal truth and it feeds strength to life. Diversity enriches our programs, which in return, will enrich people’s lives. SDJF is committed to individual and organizational efforts to build respect, dignity, fairness, caring, equality and self-esteem of diverse communities.

02. Sensitivity to Conflict

We believe media programs to be sensitive in any social conflict, and that our programs should facilitate strong debates towards common good. We strive to input peace and harvest connectivity through media.

03. Gender Equality

We strongly believe in equality, justice and, Gender Sensitive Active-Non Violence (GSANV). We trust that media cannot be a real tool to foster the positive changes in the society until it adopts a gender sensitive approach and constantly engages with issues that affect women.

04. Learning

Learning makes us unique, while making our programs pragmatic. Furthermore, learning makes us believe in the future, and will show us the changing dynamics of society that is needed for development.