Veteran Journalist Charnika presented with IWP’s Iconic Women award

Charnika Imbulana Munasinghe, a veteran Journalist, Consultant Editor Colombo Times.net and Columnist, Daily Financial Times was presented with the Iconic Women 2023 Award at the International Women Parliamentarian Conclave held at Hotel Samrat in New Delhi on the 30th and 1st July ’23.

The International Women Parliament (IWP) is an initiative of India’s Project 100. In an effort towards promoting women empowerment and gender equality, IWP’s appointed eminent Jury selected women leaders in this sphere from amongst the thousands of nominees received from around the world for the Iconic Women 2023 Award.

The Iconic Women Award for Journalism, Community and Social Welfare was presented to Charnika Imbulana Munasinghe by Dr. A.D. Sawant, Vice President of Project 100, a former Vice Chancellor, University of Rajasthan, former Pro Vice Chancellor Mumbai University and Joint Director Higher Education, Govt. of Mahrashtra, amidst a distinguished gathering that had several Heads of Foreign Missions in Delhi, also present. The Certificate of Award was presented to her by Sudeshna Parmar, US Space Camp Ambassador, U.S Space and Rocket Centre, Huntsville.

The Awardees were selected by an Independent eminent Jury panel comprising of -; Dr. Rinchen Chopel, Member UN CRC Committee, Director General SAIEVAC, Mr. Rashad Alkhader, Member UN Correspondence Association and of the International Federation of Journalists, Neelam Chopra, Former Deputy Secretary, University Grants Commission, India and Dr. Mangala Kohli, ex-member UN Education Committee, ex-ADG, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India.

Charnika Imbulana Munasinghe has a record of almost four decades in Media and her work on women’s welfare counts almost an equal number of years. She has held several key positions in the Print, Electronic and Broadcast media in Sri Lanka- as World News Editor of The Island newspapers and as International News Editor of Wijeya Group’s Daily Mirror, a columnist and Special Correspondent to the Lake House Newspapers and Daily Financial Times. She has presented and produced over 25 documentaries on National TV.

Having held the position of also Women’s Editor during her tenure at The Island newspapers, Charnika has since continued awareness campaigns through the media on women and children’s rights and eventually Co-founded ‘Women’s Forum Sri Lanka’ (WFSL, that comprised of a group of eminent professional women to promote Women’s empowerment. She created a common platform for all Women to unite and give them an opportunity to be heard. Documents were also prepared by WFSL, proposing Policy changes to empower women and were handed over to the Govt. representatives at events ‘Action for Parity’ organized and held to address the issues that are faced by women and children.

Charnika’s work record of over four decades is testimony of her dedication towards the dissemination of accurate information to the public and of her commitment to empower women. Her skills, her efforts in both these areas of work which contributes systematically to the progress and improving standards in these two fields, continue to garner international recognition. Charnika was nominated by Mrs. Thileka Perera, President of Mahile Samithi and her visit to New Delhi to receive the award was supported by Sri Lankan Airlines.