Pria Viswalingam

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Pria Viswalingam, born 1962 in Malaysia is of Sri Lankan enthnicity. He was schooled there, as well as in Britain, Singapore and Australia. He is a Sydney based journalist and television presenter best known for his work for the Australian Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) network.

He moved to Australia in 1978 and attained an Associate Diploma in Performing Arts from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 1987. His broadcasting experience began in radio, where he has worked both as a newsreader and a reporter, specialising in politics and international affairs.

There he initially worked for the News, where he also was a stand in presenter for the tv news. Further, he hosted Dateline, Tonight, Asia Report and Wine Lovers’ Guide to Australia.

Probably most popular and memorable where his A Fork in the Road travelogues from 1992 until 2004. Including "A Fork in Australia", "... Asia", "... Africa" and "... the Mediterranean", 62 episodes of approximately 25 minutes length were aired.

In 2001 he produced, directed and narrated for SBS Class, a 4 x 52 minutes series "that looks at the slow death of egalitarian Australia. A society changing into an economy in which new wealth-driven divisions are widening the gap between rich and poor", so the summary by the Australian Film Commission.

In 2001 he directed the four 30 minutes episodes of A Yen for a Dollar, a programm which had a look at Asian culture through the prism of business. This series aired on the ABC in February 2002

In 2003 Pria took at look at Australia's corporate world in the series She'll be right, Boss - a layman's look at "the big end of town" in Australia which comprised 5 episodes of 25 minutes each.

In 2006 he produced and presented Decadence, with reflections on modern life in the West, in six episodes of 50 minutes each .

He is considered by many as one of SBS Television's most popular on-air personalities.