The eighth Lakshman Kadirgamar Journalism scholar to MASCOM, the leading Indian mass communication college, left Sri Lanka this week to follow its prestigious Diploma course.

Mr.  Ravichchandrasarma Ramkumar, Assistant News Editor of the Virakesari newspaper published by Express Newspapers of (Ceylon) (Pvt.,) Ltd., is the recipient of the annual Lakshman Kadirgamar scholarship by virtue of winning the B.A. Siriwardene Columnist of the Year (Tamil) Award at last year’s Journalism Awards for Excellence programme which is jointly conducted by The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka (TEGOSL) and the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI).

Mr. Ramkumar, 29 will be under the tutelage of Prof. Thomas Oommen, Dean of MASCOM which is managed by the widely circulating Malayala Manorama Group. The academic institution has produced a long list of illustrious Indian and foreign journalists, and whose graduates are well sought after. 

The Malayala Manorama Group provides a placement to the Lakshman Kadirgamar Foundation for a young Sri Lankan journalist each year in its Diploma course in memory of the late Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka.

TEGOSL and SLPI provide the scholar his incidental expenses during his course and SriLankan Airlines has provided a return air ticket as part of its co-sponsorship of the annual Journalism Awards for Excellence programme.