Answers submitted by Editor / Founder CJ Ekanayake.

Tell us a bit about how NZLankaNews was founded.
NZLankaNews was born out of a deep-seated passion for journalism and a genuine desire to bridge the gap between two beautiful nations: New Zealand and Sri Lanka. I personally experienced the challenges faced by the Sri Lankan diaspora in staying connected to my roots, while embracing new surroundings. It became evident that there was a strong need for a platform that could bring together the global Sri Lankan community and foster a deeper understanding of both countries.

Driven by this vision, I embarked on a journey to create NZLankaNews. With research, commitment and a belief in the power of media, our team laid the foundation for a publication that would become a trusted source of news, stories, and analysis for our readers. I am immensely proud of our journey and the impact we have made so far. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our readers and the dedicated team behind NZLankaNews. As we continue to grow and evolve, we remain committed to delivering excellence and staying true to our founding principles.

What is your publication's mission and what role does it play in the wider community?
Our publication's mission is to deliver high-quality news and analysis on a range of topics, including politics, business, sports, entertainment, and more. We are committed to providing our readers with accurate, engaging and thoughtfully curated content that connects them to the cultures, people, and events of New Zealand and Sri Lanka. We are proud to offer news items in both Sinhala and English, ensuring that a wider audience can access and benefit from our platform.

Having a community-served news website in a local language has several benefits including promoting cultural understanding, increasing accessibility and engagement, business opportunities and language preservation.

Aside from news across New Zealand and Sri Lanka, what other content do you like to cover?
In addition to news from New Zealand and Sri Lanka, we also cover a wide range of content that reflects the diverse interests of our readers. This includes world news, travel guides, lifestyle features, arts and culture, technology, health and wellness, immigration, and more.

Any tips for PRs and communications professionals in pitching to your team?
We appreciate PRs and communications professionals who understand the core values and mission of NZLankaNews. Here are a few tips to consider:

• Familiarise yourself with our publication and the type of content we publish.
• Tailor your pitch to align with our audience's interests and our focus on accurate, engaging and diverse storytelling.
• Clearly highlight the unique angle or story behind your pitch. We value content that offers fresh perspectives, unique insights, or exclusive access.
• Provide supporting materials such as high-quality images, videos, or relevant data that can enhance the story and captivate our readers.
• Be concise and focused in your communication. Clearly state the key points and why your pitch would be valuable to our audience.
• Personalise your pitch and demonstrate an understanding of our readership and their preferences.