Fully Funded Journalism Fellowship Opens for 10 Young Journalists in Sri Lanka

A fully funded environmental journalism fellowship will select 10 young journalists and content creators in Sri Lanka to report on marine conservation, seagrass ecosystems and the country’s commitment to protecting 30% of its ocean by 2030.

The Coastal Connections Sri Lanka Environmental Journalism Fellowship 2026–27, organised by Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka, will provide training, editorial mentoring and financial support for journalists to produce stories, videos and fact-checks on coastal and marine environmental issues.

The programme will run from December 2026 to August 2027 and will focus on coastal areas including Puttalam, Jaffna, Mannar and Batticaloa.

Applications: Coastal Connections Sri Lanka – Journalism Fellowship 2026–27

Fully funded training and reporting opportunities

Selected fellows will participate in an online workshop in December 2026, covering marine science, seagrass ecosystems, blue carbon, Sri Lanka’s 30×30 ocean protection commitment and fact-checking techniques.

An in-person workshop and field visit will also be held on the Puttalam–Kalpitiya coast in March 2027. Participants will visit seagrass beds in Puttalam Lagoon by boat and meet marine scientists, fishing communities and local experts.

Travel, accommodation, meals and field insurance for the residential workshop and field visit will be fully covered.

Fellows will also receive stipends for every story and video they publish. Those selected to work on short environmental documentaries will receive additional payments.

The programme will provide one-to-one editorial support, monthly online mentoring sessions and opportunities to publish work in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Who can apply?

Journalists, freelance reporters, student journalists and content creators aged between 18 and 35 are eligible to apply.

Applicants can work in Sinhala, Tamil or English, and previous experience in environmental reporting is not compulsory.

The organisers particularly encourage applications from journalists based in Puttalam, Negombo, Jaffna, Mannar and Batticaloa, as well as women journalists.

Selected fellows are expected to participate in the training sessions, publish at least one written story and one short video between December 2026 and July 2027, and contribute to a fact-check, documentary or youth session in their region.

Why does the fellowship matter?

Sri Lanka launched its national 30×30 programme in August 2024, with a commitment to protect 30% of its land and ocean by 2030.

The country’s marine ecosystems, particularly seagrass meadows, play an important role in storing carbon, supporting fish populations and providing food for threatened marine mammals such as dugongs.

However, questions remain about the effective management of marine protected areas, the protection of seagrass habitats and the enforcement of the country’s bottom-trawling ban.

The fellowship aims to encourage evidence-based journalism that examines these commitments and highlights the impact of marine conservation policies on coastal communities.

Coastal Connections Sri Lanka is supported by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network through its 30×30 Media Grants.

Application deadline

Applications close on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 11.59 p.m. Sri Lanka time.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for online interviews between November 17 and 23, with the programme scheduled to begin in December.

There is no application or course fee.

Applicants should prepare links to two or three examples of their previous work and a short story idea related to seagrass, marine protection or coastal livelihoods.

Applications: Coastal Connections Sri Lanka – Journalism Fellowship 2026–27