Ninth ABU media summit to be held in SL for the 1st time

• The theme will also highlight how media can go beyond daily reporting

By PRANAVESH SIVAKUMAR   

The Ninth Asian Broadcasting Unit (ABU) Media Summit on  Climate Action and Disaster Prevention ‘25 is to be hosted in Sri Lankan  soil for the first-ever time in the nine-year history, come November  25-27, organisers said.   

Announcing this at a presser last morning, the event will bring down over 200 delegates from more than 35 countries.  

Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), the organisers,  said, “Around 75 international delegates are expected, including  high-level representatives from major broadcasters, namely NHK-Japan, CMG-China, Asian Broadcasting Corporation-Australian and  Doordarshan-India will join in at the conference. These scores of  participants will join local broadcasting experts and other key  stakeholders in climate communication and disaster preparedness.”   

The summit, themed, Building Resilience Through Media: For a  Cleaner, Greener and Safer Tomorrow, will base the talks on the role of  the media shifting from tragedy to reporters of resilience.   

The theme will also highlight how media can go beyond daily reporting to play a proactive role in safeguarding communities.   

Key features will also include – high-level keynote  addresses and thematic panels on disaster communication and climate  action, training workshops for journos to build practical skills in  disaster reporting and ABU Climate Change Awards Ceremony.   

Since its inception in little over a decade ago Jakarta,  Indonesia, this summit has been hosted by countries including Thailand,  Bangladesh, Fiji, Nepal and the Maldives.  

The initiative was born subsequent to the 2004 Boxing Day  Tsunami, underscoring the urgent need for stronger media engagement in  disaster preparation.   

The ninth edition in Colombo will spotlight its  commitment to resilience and climate communication, while also promoting  the nation as a sustainable tourism destination.