SRI LANKAS’ FIRST EVER MEDIA INCUBATOR SPACE IS LAUNCHED RECENTLY AT PERADENIYA UNIVERSITY

The inauguration of media incubator space for the media students at Peredeniya University declared open on 10th November 2022 at the Faculty of Agriculture extension. The space is built by Helvetas in partnership with SDJF with the funding support from European Union. Mr. Nicolas Gerard, the Programme Manager and International Aid and Cooperation Officer of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Prof.M.D. Lamawansa, Vice chancellor of Peradeniya, Prof.S.S.Kodithovaku, Dean of Agriculture department, Mr. Azad Mustafa the program director of the SDJF, Ms. Said Subashini Dissanayake, Country Director of Helvetas Sri Lanka, Lanka, deans from the respective faculties in Peradeniya, other faculty members, students ,staff from Helvetas and SDJF took part in the inauguration ceremony.

The guests were invited with Kandyan traditional dance to the venue by the students. “Our journey has been quite long, and there had restrictions and obstacles. However, finally, we made it, as this is the first Incubator Space that we formally opened. This space is all meant to be yours. It is space for creation, your space for learning and you can share the space with different universities....” addressed by Nichloas in the opening remarks. He added that It is expected to promote creative expression, the right to information, freedom of expression, and innovation among the students through this newly established incubator space.

Prof. M.D. Lamawansa, vice chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, addressing the event mentioned that “this space is vital to the university community. Very recently, we started a couple of projects, and I have found how difficult it is for our staff to use a space to achieve these projects. Finally, you provided a space like this in which we all in the university community must consider ways of sustainability. This incubator space that you have provided will be put to good use. This center is identified as a center working betterment for all the entities of the university”.

“ As a main indicator, we give this incubator space to the university community to promote the rights to information, gender sensitive freedom of expression, and ethical and socially responsible media expression. Eventually, it will come to protect the freedom of expression and human rights in. the country”. Said Subashini Dissanayake, Country Director of Helvetas.

Moreover, the program director of the SDJF, Mr. Azad Mustafa, also addressed the event by explaining the Inspire project and the new incubator space that was donated to the University of Peradeniya. “I’m very happy to say that under the Inspire program, I was able to train 412 media students on the modules developed by us, such as digital citizenship, freedom of expression, rights to information, etc”. Addressing the university students, he further said, “this is the first ever media incubator space in Sri Lanka, and you are very fortunate students as this space has you”.

After the series of speeches the invitees enjoyed a music played by the students and watched a short film made by them during the inter- district exchange program organized by SDJF. Finally, Dr. Uvasara Dissanayke, the head of the Department of Agriculture Extension, delivered the vote of thanks.

This activity is part of Incibator Spaces for Promoting Information Rights and Freedom of Expression (InSPIRE) project implmeneded by the Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum, Helvetas intercooperation and funded by European Union.

For more information, please visit www.ldjf.org