175 media professionals to attend SAARC Journalists Summit in Colombo

More than 175 South Asian media industry professionals are expected to attend the fourth SAARC Journalists Summit, to be held in Colombo from July 29 to August 1.

The participants will include many senior and experienced professionals  from the print and electronic media, a spokesman for the  South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA)-Sri Lanka Chapter said.

 "The theme for this year’s Summit is Freedom of the Media in Conflict Situations - the significance of which is obvious to all."

 The Journalists Summit, held alongside the SAARC Heads of State Summit, has become a forum where matters of concern for the South Asia media industry are raised and discussed. The delegates will present their observations and proposals  to all SAARC Foreign Ministers during a formal interaction with them, at the concluding session, the spokesman said.

 Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa has been invited to inaugurate the Summit. Among the distinguished participants would be N. Ram,who is Chairman of the South Asia Media Commission.

SAFMA, which represents media professionals in the region, is an affiliated body of the SAARC Secretariat.