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Youth from across the globe gather in Negombo for the iDove Hybrid International Youth Conference

Published

4 years ago

2023/01/20

Interfaith exchanges and inter-religious dialogue to promote peace and coexistence were key aspects of the iDove in Sri Lanka programme. Over 300 youth across the country participated in this process, which encouraged youth leadership and creative means to promote harmony.

“Only when we relate to one another beyond the differences of religion and ethnicity or race, do we embrace our humanity”, remarked an iDove Youth Ambassador, as she and 80 other youth and civil society stakeholders gathered in Negombo, at the Goldi Sands Hotel, for the iDove Hybrid International Conference from 15-17 November. Young people from across 23 districts in Sri Lanka as well as from Uganda, the Philippines and Kenya, who are part of the iDove global network came together over two days to learn from each other and raise awareness on this important issue. Creative arts, a strategy for mediating complex topics and finding common ground, was also a primary feature at the conference, with guest performances from Power of Play, Ravibandhu Vidyapathi’s troupe and Naach Colombo.

During the conference, the Guest of Honour, the Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy in Sri Lanka, Olaf Malchow, stressed the need for youth initiatives for change, especially as global conflicts were increasing around the world. He observed how youth are often undermined and neglected and iDove in that way offered them the potential to be informed, stay actively engaged and share lessons learned and best practices and amplify each other’s voice for change.

The Interfaith Dialogue on Violent Extremism (iDove) approach was developed in 2017, to empower youth to promote inter-religious and cultural values and understanding in their communities. iDove was launched by the African Union Commission’s Directorate of Citizens and Diaspora Organizations (AUC-CIDO) and the Deutsche Geselleschaft für Internationale Zussamenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation with a view to foster innovative youth-based interventions using dialogue and soft skills to create agents of change for inter-religious coexistence and harmony in society. In Sri Lanka, this programme was implemented in partnership with National Fisheries Solidarity (NAFSO), National Peace Council (NPC) and Viluthu, three civil society organizations.

Since its inception in Sri Lanka from March 2022, iDove Ambassadors in the three civil society organizations have encouraged and motivated youth in 23 districts to engage in promoting harmony and coexistence with their wider communities, such as religious clergy, and government and non-government actors representing different faiths to come together and promote an appreciation for diversity and pluralism.

What began with 25 “iDovers” in a Training-of-Trainers programme on preventing violent extremism has grown to 300 iDove ambassadors. With new innovative ideas to prevent violent extremism in mind, the ambassadors designed creative interventions to foster community coexistence at the grassroots level such as charity drives, community mobilizing events, activities promoting intercultural understanding, intercultural exposure, and creative and gamified activities in 15 districts. Their community efforts engaged more than 3,000 people and the social media campaigns have reached an audience of 30,000 online.

The potential of iDove is significant. It has a unique way of focusing on peer-exchange and utilizes dialogue between people from different age, linguistic, ethnic and religious groups. This dialogue has helped youth share how many aspects of violence and exclusion affect our societies across continents in similar ways. In iDove, the particular emphasis on interfaith dialogue to bridge the gap between diverse communities is an attempt to, while promoting rights-based principles, recognize and appreciate pluralistic identities and provide effective tools with which people can engage with each other through peaceful means. “I had not thought extremist groups as different from religious groups before this. To me they were just an extension of the religion or race they fought in the name of- before being involved in iDove Sri Lanka. It is only after that I saw them as a distinct group that embraced violence and realized how I wrong I was in my thinking” explained a youth participant, “this needs to be understood more in our society- that is what we are working towards”.

The iDove Hybrid International Youth Conference platform is the start of more joint learning and exchange opportunities among young iDove Ambassadors from Asia, Africa and Europe. Many of the youth had already initiated many community initiatives and awareness programmes in their respective districts and hope to continue these efforts with the support of the civil society partners.

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Charting a worker-centered AI future: Colombo hosts landmark ITF conference

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

The ITF’s first-ever AI-focused global conference and the first of its kind hosted in Sri Lanka

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Artificial intelligence and automation present serious challenges for workers – such as job consequences seen in docks and rail systems – and emphasises that workers cannot simply stop technological progress. By gathering young trade unionists in Sri Lanka, the ITF aims to establish key principles for engaging with technology, ensuring workers have a strong voice at the bargaining table, and encouraging constructive social dialogue with corporations and governments.

These compelling words from ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton underscored the urgent reality facing modern labor as rapid technological advancements sweep across global industries.

Confronting this shifting landscape head-on, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), in partnership with the National Union of Seafarers of Sri Lanka (NUSS), convened a ground-breaking conference on artificial intelligence in Colombo from September 15–17.

As the ITF’s first-ever AI-focused global conference and the first of its kind hosted in Sri Lanka, the landmark event marked a critical milestone in balancing technological innovation with worker-centered safeguards.

Representing over 16.6 million transport workers worldwide, the ITF designed the gathering to tackle the multifaceted impacts of AI on safety, operations, workforce development, and governance. Rather than resisting progress, the conference focused on proactive engagement, establishing guiding principles to protect workers’ rights and privacy both at sea and on land.

Key discussions centred on sharing best practices for upskilling and reskilling transport personnel, ensuring that human oversight remains central to AI-driven logistics, routing, and maintenance.

Reflecting on the historic nature of the event, Boa Athu, CEO of National Union of Seafarers Asia Pacific, noted that the conference represented a monumental moment as AI emerges as a permanent fixture of contemporary life.

Highlighting NUSS’s pride in hosting the event in Colombo, Athu emphasised that AI offers transformative potential when guided by strong social dialogue, equitable access to training, and robust governance safeguards.

Ultimately, the Colombo conference demonstrated that the future of transport must be shaped by those who keep the world moving. By uniting international labour leaders, affiliates, port operators, and regulators, the event laid a vital foundation for inclusive policy frameworks that champion fair labour standards, securing a powerful voice for workers in an automated tomorrow.

Business

Bridging the digital divide: Sri Lanka’s airport licence challenge

Published

5 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

As tourism surges from digitally advanced markets like India, modern independent travelers arriving at BIA find themselves caught in a mismatch between cloudstored credentials and local paper-based transport protocols.

By Sanath Nanayakkare

As Sri Lanka experiences a surge in visitors from its largest tourist market, India, a modern administrative hurdle has emerged at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

While nations like India and Pakistan have successfully transitioned to fully digital driving licences and cashless ecosystems, Sri Lanka’s Department of Motor Traffic counter still requires a physical card to issue temporary local permits, The Island Financial Review learns.

This mismatch creates significant friction for independent travelers who rely entirely on smartphones and cloud-stored credentials. Tourists turned away at the airport – and sometimes redirected to the Werahera office in vain – find themselves unable to legally rent and drive vehicles. Consequently, this policy gap harms local car rental operators, causes tourist frustration, and deprives the government of valuable permit revenue.

The situation highlights a distinct irony: Sri Lankan motorists easily travel abroad using International Driving Permits that are readily accepted in India and Pakistan, yet local infrastructure cannot reciprocate due to outdated verification systems.

Recognizing the problem, Department of Motor Traffic officials have noted that upgrades and new equipment are currently in the works to integrate foreign digital platforms.

For a nation aggressively pursuing a national digitalisation drive, rapidly modernising these transport protocols is essential to keeping pace with global travelers and unlocking the full potential of its tourism economy.

Business

International Afro-Latin Dance Festival in Colombo to grow into a larger regional tourism draw

Published

5 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

Founder X Director – ALIF – J D RUBAN

ALIF-SL, Sri Lanka’s first-ever international Afro-Latin dance festival, returns for its 4th edition from 25 to 27 September 2026 at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. The festival will bring together over 30 international and national artists and 175–200 participants from more than 20 countries, reaffirming its place as the region’s leading platform for Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba.

This year’s edition is headlined by Tropical Gem, the world’s No. 1 salsa team, travelling from Italy to perform and teach alongside a stellar international line-up. Attendees can also look forward to the ALIF Cup Sri Lanka Open, a keenly contested competition judged by an international panel, giving local dancers a rare opportunity to compete and connect with world-class talent.

“Every year, ALIF connects Sri Lanka to the world. With this year’s artist line-up and the ALIF Cup competition, we’re not just hosting a festival, we’re putting Sri Lanka on the map as a top destination for dance,” said JD Ruban, Founder and Director of ALIF-SL

Beyond the dance floor, ALIF-SL continues to support Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, drawing dancers, judges and enthusiasts from across the globe to Colombo and positioning the capital as an emerging regional hub for social dance. Organizers plan to grow the festival into a larger regional tourism draw, introduce new competition categories, and bring in even bigger headline acts in future editions.