A journalist / media academic from Sri Lanka with wide experience on media development in Asia and Africa, Ranga is the Asia Regional Advisor of IMS. Nominated among the world best five for UK-Canada World Press Freedom Award 2020. Special interest and expertise on media in conflicts and political violence in Asia. Working experience in Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s first Ph.D in News Journalism with a research on reporting ethnicity in vernacular press (2013) – a study on the impact of Sri Lanka’s civil war in news reporting. Reuter Fellow, Green College, Oxford University, United Kingdom (2000) with a research paper on Combating Terrorism and Discussing Peace [Case studies, Northern Ireland and Sri Lankan peace processes]. Masters’ Degree in Information Management, with International Political Economy as Co- course, Asia-Europe Institute, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur (2004). Masters Research Study was conducted at S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2003) on online marketing strategies of terrorist organizations. Bachelor of Science (Mathematics), The Open University of Sri Lanka (2001). Diploma in News Agency Journalism, Indian Institute of Mass Communications, New Delhi (1995). Reuters Training on International News Writing, Reuters Headquarters, London (1998) and UN training on Reporting UN and International Affairs, UN Headquarters, New York (1999). Author of the publication ‘LTTE and IRA – Combating Terrorism and Discussing Peace.’ Former spokesman to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka. Former Counsellor (Information), Sri Lanka High Commission, Kuala Lumpur. Visiting Lecturer, Journalism and Mass Communication Department, Sri Jayawardhanapura University and Visiting Lecturer, Journalism Department, Colombo University. Former Director General of Sri Lanka Press Institute / Sri Lanka College of Journalism / Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka. Former Director General of Department of Information (Official Spokesperson) of the government of Sri Lanka.
He has also lectured at NATO Defence College in Ankara, Turkey as an external resource person.
Special interest in Media Content, Media Regulation and Media Dynamics, Terrorism and Political Violence, media in conflict and emerging / failed democracies. Presented papers at international conferences in Malaysia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Turkey, Myanmar, The Philippines, Kenya, South Africa, Afghanistan, Japan, South Korea and Nepal on media, terrorism and political violence issues.