Clockwise from top left: Event co-organizers Sapaner Natasha Raheja and Mohsin Bhat from Pakistan and India, respectively; Photo by Beena Sarwar. Group photo at the end of Day 2. Photo by Aniket Aga, SUNY Buffalo; Sapaners Beena Sarwar, Arjashree Chakma, Hana Shams Ahmed
Screenings of ‘Democracy in Debt: Sri Lanka Beyond the Headlines’ at Cornell University
The Sapan documentary film ‘ Democracy in Debt: Sri Lanka Beyond the Headlines ’ continues to travel across borders and languages, sparking dialogue on democracy, accountability, and people’s voices. The film was screened as part of a two-day discussion on ‘Majority-Minority Politics and Democracy in South Asia,’ 12-13 September at Cornell University, co-organized by Sapaner Natasha Raheja, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Performing & Media Arts at Cornell, and Mohsin Bhat, Lecturer in Law, Queen Mary University London. The screening constituting the event’s Skillshare 1: Cultivating a South Asian Public, was followed by a discussion with journalists Beena Sarwar and Dr Ronojoy Sen, moderated by Hadia Khan of Jamhoor .
Following screenings in Colombo in early August, the Sinhala version of the film was presented at the Thilak Wijesekera Library in Athuraliya village, Matara District, southern Sri Lanka, on August 19. Organized by Prathiba Media Network and Athuraliya Media Literacy Society , it was followed by a lively discussion between locals, the Sinhala language producer and senior journalist Priyantha Pradeep Ranasinghe, and filmmaker Beena Sarwar.
On 22 August, Sinhala television channel TV Supreme’s presenter Aruni Kodithuwakku interviewed Priyantha and Beena for her show ‘Every Morning’ — watch it here .
That channel also broadcast the film that evening - a momentous occasion for Sapan. The same day, former president Ranil Wickramasinghe was arrested on corruption charges.
Listen to Beena’s interview in English with Sherry Thahir on Radio Sri Lanka, Colombo, here.
At the Kautilya School of Public Policy in Hyderabad, India
Invited as a Teaching Fellow at the Kautilya School of Public Policy in Hyderabad, India, Sri Lankan researcher and foreign policy analyst, Sapaner Uditha Devapriya, conducted two lectures around ‘Democracy in Debt: Sri Lanka Beyond the Headlines’ for first- and second-year Master’s in Public Policy students, August 19 and 21. He highlighted the contrast between Colombo’s policy elite and rural grassroots communities, and their perspectives on Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis and its aftermath.
From a public policy standpoint, he argued that Sri Lanka represents a case study of how globally celebrated economic reforms failed to restore trust in political institutions, and how such gaps risk derailing reforms unless addressed with meaningful action.
Kautilya School of Public Policy
Sapan News at the LION Independent News Sustainability Summit
From Sapan News, Sarita Bartula and Beena Sarwar attended the Independent News Sustainability Summit, hosted by LION Publishers in St Louis, Missouri, 3-5 September 2025. The summit brought together independent news publishers, industry experts, and supporters to exchange hard-won lessons, share actionable advice on running sustainable news organizations, and strengthen the local news ecosystem.
The gathering offered an opportunity to connect with peers and reaffirm commitment to building cross-border, independent journalism in South Asia and its diaspora.
Beena Sarwar, Sapan News Editor-in-Chief & Sarita Bartula, Lead- Strategy and Development, during the summit with fellow journalists and news entrepreneurs
Climate Conversations
“We’re living in a T20 world, but we’re still playing a Test match with climate messaging.” – Afia Salam, Karachi
Senior journalist and Sapaner Afia Salam reminds us that while the climate crisis accelerates, communication around it is still lagging. To match the urgency of the problem, we need the speed of a T20 game, she says in the discussion: Beyond the Science: The Missing Piece in Climate Action. Watch here
Book Launch: ‘America at the Crossroads’ by Dr Akbar S. Ahmed
Monday, 3 November, Washington, DC: Launch of Distinguished Professor Akbar S. Ahmed’s new book, America at the Crossroads: Race, Islam, and Leadership, will take place, 3–4:30 pm at the SIS Founders Room, American University. Besides the author, discussants include Dean Shannon Hader, Dr Mehdi Heravi, Ambassador Doug Holladay, Tehmina Khan, and Frankie Martin. Sapaners in the DC area are cordially invited.
Casting call: Lead role for Afghan girl in short film
Screenwriter Shujauddin, a Sapaner and media professor in Texas, working on a short film Howzzat Houston (Tishna Films) , centered on the inspiring story of a young Afghan woman and her passion to play cricket in Texas, sends out this casing call: Looking for: An Afghan female, between 18–25 years of age, fluent in Dari and/or Pashto. Must know cricket bowling (fast or spin). Prior acting experience preferred. The filming will take place in Austin or Houston, later this year or early 2026. This is a paid role. Apply here: tishnafilms.com/howzzathouston
Sapan News
