From Left to right : Mr. Rangana Fernando, son of late Mr. Elmo Fernando, Mr. Kumar Lopez, CEO of the Sri Lanka Press Institute and Hon. Minister of Media and Parliamentary Reforms, Gayantha Karunathilaka. (photo by : Akila Jayawardana)

The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) has launched a ’Hot Desk’ giving journalists on the move a place and computer to do their work. The computers were donated by Mr. Rangana Fernando in memory of his late father Mr. Elmo Fernando who was the former BBC correspondent in Sri Lanka. The computers were handed over at a ceremony held at the SLPI on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, to launch the biography of late Mr. Elmo Fernando. The Minster of Media and Parliamentary Reforms, Gayantha Karunathilaka was the chief guest at this event.

The concept of the ‘Hot Desk’ is to provide the journalists on the move, a location with computers and internet facilities to report and research information to support their work. This initiative has also enabled SLPI to be a Wi-fi zone, where Journalists could also bring their own devices and work from its premises. The CEO of SLPI, Kumar Lopez mentioned “SLPI is a place where the media community patronizes often and this facility will be of much support to Journalists and students of journalism”. The journalists on the move can access this facility by producing their media card at SLPI, which is located at 96, Kirula Road, Colombo 05.