News
“UNDO Doesn’t Work in Real Life”: New campaign launched to tackle harmful speech and promote social cohesion
A public awareness campaign, titled “UNDO Doesn’t Work in Real Life,” was launched yesterday to address the growing threat of harmful speech and misinformation, while fostering empathy, accountability, and responsible storytelling in Sri Lanka.
This joint campaign is a collaborative initiative by the United Nations in Sri Lanka together with the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, and is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNICEF in Sri Lanka, with support from the UN Sri Lanka SDG Fund.
Held in Colombo, the launch event saw the participation of Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media; Marc-André Franche, Resident Coordinator, United Nations in Sri Lanka; Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP Sri Lanka; and Christian Skoog, Representative, UNICEF Sri Lanka, alongside senior ministry officials, journalists, civil society actors, and media professionals.
Commenting on the effects of dangerous speech, Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media, noted, “The power to combat hate speech misinformation and disinformation does not lie only with the government, tech companies and journalists, it lies also with the people. Let us work together to strengthen the policies to combat online hate speech and misinformation.”
The centrepiece of the campaign is a series of short videos, developed using real-time data from Sri Lanka’s online and offline spaces. These stories reflect the very real consequences of dangerous speech on individuals and communities, particularly women, youth, and marginalized groups.
Marc-André Franche, the United Nations Resident Coordinator highlighted the UN Secretary General’s Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech which provides a clear framework to counter hate while upholding freedom of expression—a balance that is critical in a rapidly polarizing global and national media landscape in which greater responsibility is placed on governments, civil society, media and individual users to navigate online harm: “The rise in online harmful speech, particularly during politically sensitive periods, is a disturbing trend we must confront together”, stated Franche.
According to the UN Early Warning Brief (February 2025), 46% of online harmful speech still targets women, despite a 22% month-on-month drop in total harmful content. These trends reinforce the urgent need for public awareness, especially around the gendered impacts of disinformation and hate speech. “In the digital world, you can press ‘undo’ — but in real life, the damage caused by harmful speech is ingrained in someone’s hearts and minds, and often irreversible,” said Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka.
“We hope the media will carry this message forward to enhance awareness amongst the public on the unintended and intended consequences of harmful speech, and promote responsible dialogue towards social cohesion.” “As UNICEF we have taken several actions to empower communities and future generations. We are equipping young minds with skills to engage in safe internet use and nurture critical thinking skills to recognize, challenge, and reject false and harmful language before it takes root”, said Christian Skoog, UNICEF Representative in Sri Lanka.
“In addition, UNICEF is working with grassroots organisations and religious leaders to actively prevent and counter hate speech and misinformation in their communities”, he added. The campaign which will run on mainstream media and digital outlets aims to spark national conversation, build digital literacy, and encourage responsible storytelling with media professionals playing a central role in carrying the message to the public.
News
Showers expected in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern and Uva provinces and Batticaloa and Ampara districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 DECEMBER 2025
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 December 2025 by the Department of Meteorology
The Northeast monsoon conditions are gradually establishing over the island. Showery weather condition is expected to enhance over the Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces from tonight.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces during the early hours of the morning.
Showers will occur at times in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly heavy showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in other areas of the island after 1.00 p.m.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Death toll hits 627, over 2.17 mn affected across 25 districts
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has issued fresh landslide warnings as relentless heavy rains continue to pound regions still reeling from Cyclone Ditwah.
The Department of Meteorology has cautioned that thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rainfall are likely across parts of the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, as well as Galle and Matara districts. Rainfall is expected to intensify further on the 9th, 10th, and 11th of this month.
Authorities urged the public to stay indoors in safe buildings or vehicles and avoid open areas such as coconut and tea plantations, playgrounds, and reservoirs, during adverse weather events. The public has also been advised against using fixed-line phones, electrical appliances, and open vehicles like bicycles, tractors, and boats due to the risk of lightning strikes and strong winds.
With the northeast monsoon gradually intensifying, occasional rains are also expected in the Northern, North Central, Eastern, and Uva provinces, with some areas of the Batticaloa district expected to receive up to 75 mm of rainfall. Misty conditions may affect parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, and Uva provinces during early mornings.
The DMC has said the floods and landslides, triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, have so far claimed 627 lives, with 190 people still missing. More than 2.17 million people, across 25 districts, have been affected, including 611,530 families. A total of 4,517 houses have been destroyed, and 76,066 partially damaged, leaving over 80,500 homes affected, nationwide.
Kandy is the hardest hit District, recording 232 deaths, 81 missing persons, 1,800 fully destroyed houses, and over 13,000 partially damaged homes. Puttalam and Kurunegala reported 573 and 480 fully destroyed houses, respectively, while Kegalle, Ratnapura, Badulla, and Gampaha also suffered extensive property losses.
Authorities have set up 956 safety centres across the country, currently sheltering 27,663 families, totaling 89,857 people. Relief and rehabilitation efforts are ongoing, with priority given to food, water, and medical aid. Officials warned residents in landslide-prone areas to remain in shelters until conditions stabilise.
by Chaminda Silva
In a massive nationwide crackdown under the Ratama Ekata (A Nation United) Drug Prevention Programme, police have taken 35,855 drug traffickers and users into custody across the country in just 36 days, according to Deputy Inspector General of Police Ashoka Dharmasena.
During the operation, authorities had seized 268 kilos of heroin and 994 kilos of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine), Dharmasena added.
He also highlighted that since January 2025, the ongoing campaign had resulted in the confiscation of 1,754 kilos of heroin, 3,535 kilos of ‘Ice,’ and 15,975 kilos of cannabis, marking a significant blow to drug networks operating nationwide.
The Police Narcotics Bureau Chief said that the drive was part of an ongoing effort to curb drug abuse and trafficking across the country, sending a strong message to offenders that law enforcement would leave no stone unturned in tackling the menace.
by Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu
Showers expected in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern and Uva provinces and Batticaloa and Ampara districts
New landslide alerts as Ditwah aftermath worsens
Over 35,000 drug offenders nabbed in 36 days
Rising water level in Malwathu Oya triggers alert in Thanthirimale
US INDOPACOM deploys airlift and logistics support for Lanka’s Cyclone Ditwah response
Seizure of drug haul off Kalpitiya:Father, son among 5 arrested
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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