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Social media a trusted source of information- SDJF

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

Mohamed Azad - (Programme Director SDJF)

Text and picture by
PRIYAN DE SILVA

Presenting the findings of a research on ‘Freedom of Expression and New media culture in Sri Lanka’ Programme Director at the Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum (SDJF) Mohamed Azad asserted that 61.8% of those who participated in the survey considered social media as a reliable source of information, relating to important issues such as health and well-being. They had affirmed that they obtained information relating to COVID-19, such as vaccinations and government guidelines, from social media.

According to the SDJF report the new media landscape in Sri Lanka has drastically changed over the past decade as a wider population across the country had gained access to the Internet. Moreover, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was felt in Sri Lanka in early 2020, the transition towards conducting business operations and online learning facilities, through digital platforms had received a boost.

The report also states that the use of internet grew due to the pandemic and therefore became even more relevant to understand the opportunities and limits of freedom of expression using new media during the global crisis.

Azad said that 96% of those in the main survey sample (15 to 29 age group) and 65% of those in the Influential group category (40 to 68 age group) had admitted that they used the Internet, while 78.7% of those in the 15 to 29 age group had indicated that they used Internet daily.

Based on the findings of the research, it was proposed that the public should be educated on the range of new media platforms and be better equipped on how to understand and use those platforms, responsibly, and their rights when expressing themselves.

As media literacy training, from early ages, could stimulate generational change, grassroots activists and community leaders should be educated on how to leverage new media technologies to foster positive societal change.

It was also proposed that university curricula and those of media training institutes should include new media technologies in areas of study such as journalism, sociology and politics, especially in a Sri Lankan context to equip budding leaders with improved information flows.

The research, a part of the ‘Incubator Spaces for Promoting Information Rights and Freedom of Expression (InSPIRE) project funded by the European Union and implemented by HELVETAS inter-cooperation gGmBH Sri Lanka in partnership with SDJF was carried out by the Institute of Particpatory Interaction and Development (IPID) specifically focusing on new media used by the youth between the ages 15 to 29 and their parents (Influential Group between the age 40 to 68) to obtain their perception of new media usage and behaviour of their children as well as their own involvement in engaging in the new media. The research was conducted between July and December 2021.

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India gifts 134 cabs to Sri Lanka Police

Published

6 hours ago

2026/05/25

Priyan

A consignment of 134 single cabs gifted by the Government of India under the Indo–Sri Lanka Friendship Programme for the use of the Sri Lanka Police was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday (25) morning at the Presidential Secretariat.

The Government of India has incurred an expenditure of approximately LKR.300 million for this initiative and the vehicles are scheduled to be distributed among police stations in the Northern Province.

Speaking at the occasion, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha stated that similar assistance would continue to be extended to Sri Lanka in the future.

In appreciation of this gift by the Government of India, Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya presented a commemorative memento to Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha.

Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala, Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Sunil Watagala, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne, General Manager of DIMO Rajeev Pandithage, officials of the Indian High Commission and senior officers of the Sri Lanka Police were also present at the occasion.

(PMD)

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura extended till 1600 hrs on Tuesday [26]

Published

7 hours ago

2026/05/25

Priyan

The National Building Reasearch Organisation [NBRO] has extended the landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura till 1600 hrs on Tuesday 26th May 2026.

Accordingly,
The LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Dehiowita, Deraniyagala, Ruwanwella and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Kuruwita, Ratnapura, Ayagama and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura district and

The LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla in the Gampaha district, Palindanuwara, Mathugama, Bulathsinhala, Agalawatta, Ingiriya and Horana in the Kalutara district, Bulathkohupitiya in the Kegalle district, Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district and Kiriella, Pelmadulla, Nivithigala, Elapatha and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district have been extended.

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No PC polls this year, says Tilvin

Published

20 hours ago

2026/05/25

Thilina Walpola

Tilvin

The much-delayed Provincial Council (PC) elections cannot be held this year due to financial and legal constraints, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva has said in Jaffna.Silva said so, fielding questions from journalists after the opening of the NPP coordination office in the Jaffna District on Saturday.

When asked whether the government was under Indian pressure to conduct the Provincial Council elections soon, Silva answered in the negative, claiming that Sri Lankan and Indian governments maintained close and friendly relations with a strong level of understanding.

He said budgetary allocations had been made for the PC elections, but the government had been compelled to divert resources for disaster relief following the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. According to Silva, nearly Rs. 500 billion had to be allocated for relief measures, making it difficult to hold the elections this year. He further said legal complications in the electoral reform process had also contributed to the delay in holding the PC elections, noting that a parliamentary committee had been appointed to determine the electoral systems under which the PC polls should be conducted. Once the committee submitted its report and if no further issues arose, the elections could possibly be held next year, he said.

Silva also said the government had taken measures to strengthen reconciliation and development in the North by releasing lands previously occupied by military camps and improving road infrastructure.He added that empowerment initiatives were being implemented under the Praja Shakthi programme and that both Sri Lanka and India were continuing to work in close cooperation.