Vineeta Rao
Auckland, April 10, 2025
The International Women of Courage Award (IWOC) was instituted in 2007 by the former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Awarded annually, it celebrates women around the world who show leadership, courage, resourcefulness and willingness to sacrifice for others, especially for women’s rights.
This year, the list of awardees features a well-known name from the Sri Lankan media.
Namini Wijedesa, the Deputy Editor (Investigations) of The Sunday Times, is a veteran journalist with over three decades of experience under her belt.
Her career began in 1994 as a Reporter with The Island, during the 26-year-long Civil War, one of the most tumultuous periods in Sri Lankan history. She earned her battle stripes in the trenches, documenting the human toll of the war, providing a voice to those still grappling with the aftermath of violence, such as displaced communities, survivors and war widows.
Her early reporting shone a light on the reality of post-war Sri Lanka, highlighting the need for humanitarian aid and post-war reconciliation and laid the foundation for her subsequent career as an investigative journalist. Since then, she has only grown stronger – shedding light on issues critical to her country, such as corruption, abuse of power and human rights violations.
Naturally, not everybody is a fan, and her fearlessness and need to hold those in power accountable for their actions have led to threats against her personal safety. But that has only fuelled her determination.
Investigative Journalism
Investigative journalism is a hard field to break into, particularly if you are a woman and especially if you investigate the rich and the powerful. But Namini has never hesitated to champion the cause of good governance and transparency.
Throughout her career, Wijedesa has navigated an increasingly hostile environment for press freedom in Sri Lanka. Legal restrictions, institutional barriers, and the growing threat of censorship have made it challenging for journalists to report freely.
Her reports have sparked significant public debates on political accountability and the need for systemic reforms. One of her most notable investigations involved exposing a major corruption scandal that implicated high-ranking officials.
Despite facing threats and attempts to silence her, Wijedasa’s relentless pursuit of the truth led to significant political repercussions and reforms.
Her work not only brought justice to the victims but also reinforced the importance of a free and independent press in a democratic society. Beyond her investigative work, Wijedasa has also been a mentor to many young journalists, helping to shape the next generation.
Recognition and Honour
The IWOC award is one of the many garnered by her work. In 2005, she won the Lorenzo Natalie Grand Prize. In 2009, she received the Mervyn de Silva award, named after one of Sri Lanka’s most influential and distinguished journalists, highlighting the esteem her colleagues have for her.
The D R Wijewardana Award was instituted in the name of the founder of Lake House Newspapers, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest media houses.
It recognises the work of journalists who uphold the highest standards in the industry. Namini won this award twice, once in 2006 and then again 10 years later, in 2016.
The role of the media, as the fourth estate, driving opinions, holding power to accountability and driving development has been historically documented. But in this age where the media has its own ‘superstars’ and ‘celebrities,’ perhaps the shine has dimmed on that ideological mandate.
Journalists like Namini Wijedasa remind us that things may be bad but not hopeless. Her legacy will continue in the younger journalists she mentors.
I congratulate our colleague on her award and wish her every success in her career.
Other Awardees (2025)
Henriette Da (Burkina Faso), Amit Soussana (Israel), Major Velena Iga (Papua New Guinea), Angelique Songco (Philippines), Georgiana Pascu (Romania), Zabib Musa Loro Bakhit (South Sudan), Namini Wijedasa (Sri Lanka), Amat Al-Salam Al-Hajj (Yemen), An Honorary Award was presented to the women student protest leaders of Bangladesh for their role in the revolution against the previous government.
Vineeta Rao is an Indian Newslink Reporter based in Auckland.
