17/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel has awarded the Sri Lankan journalist, Wijedasa Namini, the “grand prix” of the 2005 Lorenzo Natali Prize (named after the former Development Commissioner and fervent human rights defender). The Lorenzo Natali prize is awarded each year by the Commission to a journalist who has shown exceptional commitment in favour of development, human rights and democracy. The event has aroused remarkable interest this year with the participation of 996 candidates from 138 countries. Commissioner Michel congratulated Mr Namini on the quality of his work, a report entitled “Blatant Relentless Child Recruitment” on the practice of recruiting child soldiers by the Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers. The Commissioner also stressed the important role of journalists in defending democracy and human rights and added that “without democracy and freedom of the press, development would not be sustainable”.