I AM
Wijith DeChickera
The Voice of Context in a Noise of News for over 30 years.
The Insider’s Historian. The Outsider’s Analyst.
- Interpreter of Complexity. Political Analyst. Narrative Strategist. Arts Critic.
“For 30 years, I have stood at the intersection of policy, culture, and commerce—translating the noise of Sri Lanka into the signal of global insight.”
I have served as a primary chronicler of the Sri Lankan narrative—standing at the intersection of political analysis, socio-economic critique, and the arts.
In a media landscape often defined by reactionary noise, my work operates differently. I do not just report on the event; I map the genealogy of the crisis. From the columns of the Daily FT to the features of LMD, I have functioned as the “Insider-Outsider”: deeply embedded in the realities of Colombo’s corridors of power, yet maintaining the critical distance required to dissect them with unflinching clarity.
My career is built on the belief that a nation’s economy cannot be understood without its politics, and its politics cannot be deciphered without its culture.
For the Global Editor & Market Entrant: I provide more than coverage; I provide context. Whether dissecting the constitutional complexities of governance, the post-crisis economic recovery, or the shifting geopolitical tides of South Asia, I translate local intricacy into global relevance. I offer the historical literacy that international reporting often lacks.
For the Development Sector & Corporate Leaders: Data alone does not drive change; narrative does. I bridge the gap between “technical reporting” and “human impact,” turning dense policy frameworks into compelling, actionable English that resonates with stakeholders, donors, and the public.
For the Arts Community: A play, a book, or a film is not an isolated product—it is a mirror to society. My reviews are written as a critical canon, validating creative work not merely as entertainment, but as an essential record of our times.
I am not here to simply add to the conversation. I am here to elevate the standard of the discourse.
Wijith DeChickera
Author
My Story
“To understand the headline, you must first understand the heartbeat of the history behind it.
My journey began over thirty years ago, not merely as a writer, but as a witness. I entered the Sri Lankan media landscape at a time of profound transition, and I have spent the ensuing decades chronicling the cycles of this nation—the conflicts, the ceasefires, the economic shocks, and the cultural renaissances.
I realized early on that journalism in South Asia is not a spectator sport. It requires a distinct ability to stand in the eye of the storm and map the chaos. Whether I was editing a national broadsheet or critiquing a subversive piece of theatre, my goal remained the same: to curate clarity.
Today, I do not just write about Sri Lanka for the world; I interpret it. I offer my partners the kind of nuanced, grounded foresight that can only come from having lived, worked, and written through the history that others only read about.”