On behalf of the Government of France, the Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka, Mrs Christine Robichon, will confer on Anomaa Rajakaruna the title of ‘Chevalier dans l’Ordre National du Mérite  (Knight in the French National  Order of Merit) The National Order of Merit) tomorrow, October 23.

Anomaa Rajakaruna is a photographer, filmmaker and writer who has travelled extensively in South Asia documenting the lives of community groups and in particular the lives of women and children in these communities.

She is well known for her ‘rights based’ approach in photography, filmmaking and writing. Rajakaruna has her work exhibited in South Asia, Europe and USA and won several international awards for her films and photography.

The French National Order of Merit was created by General de Gaulle in 1963. Its aim is to reward distinguished service demonstrated in either a public, civilian or military function, or in the exercise of a private activity, during a period of at least ten years. The National Order of Merit seeks to reward services rendered to France which includes services rendered by foreigners to French interests and French values, inside and outside France.

A long time member of International Association of Women in Radio & Television (IAWRT), Anomaa serves as the Secretary of South Asia Free Media Association, Sri Lanka Chapter.

Rajakaruna joined Studio Bonsoir as the Chief Editor in 2004 and was responsible for restructuring the Bonsoir weekly TV programme for Channel Eye, SLRC  produced by the Embassy of France in partnership with Canal France International.

Under her supervision Bonsoir became the second mostly watched programme on the channel and several programmes reached out to audiences not only in Sri Lanka but in South East Asia as well.

She initiated training programmes for young filmmakers at Studio Bonsoir and organized a Short Film Festival to mark 25^th anniversary of Bonsoir.