Socially responsible digital citizens are vital for inclusive development in Sri Lanka

Socially responsible digital citizens are vital for inclusive development in Sri Lanka

The ultimate goal of project InSPIRE is to create young digital citizens who can act and behave responsibly and accountably in the digital space and contribute to the inclusive development of the country positively. In the recent past, the way we consume information and share has been changing with the evolution of technology and internet. Responsible digital citizens and securing our privacy on digital platform are the main two areas the university students should focus. This is a rare and very good opportunity for students to get to know about digital media and its behavior addressed by Azad Mustaffa, Program Director of Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum at the inauguration of Exploration of Future Media Minds virtual training program series for the University of Sri Jayawardanapura was held on September 12, 2021.

In this program, 25 (M-02, F-25) students form the Departments of Sinhala and Mass Communication, Fine Arts and Social Science participated.

Chandula Kumbukage, the Project Manager of Helvetas addressing the students added that there has been drastic development in digital media during last few years. But it is obvious that some people who use digital media without responsibility or accountability. We can see there are miss information are spreading on social media during this Covid situation. We believe that, as communication students you will be journalists in future media. The main intention of this program is to educate and develop skills of your generation.

After a short inauguration, Dr.M.C.Rasmin, Independent Media Trainer and Mr. Nuwan Fonseka, Director of Association of Cyber Security Professionals (ACSP) facilitated the first session on Digital Citizenship. In this session, roles and responsible of a digital citizen, rights and responsibility for ethical expression, our digital foot print, digital security and privacy were covered. They have used interactive online training tools such as www.Kahoot.it, www.slido.com, www.quizz.com,etc.

Ishara Wadduwage, a student said “It was an extremely informative, enjoyable and above all valuable session and I look forward to putting some of the techniques which I have learned in to practice".

This training program was organized as a part of Incubator Spaces for Promoting Information Rights and freedom of Expression (InSPIRE) implemented by the Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum and Helvetas and funded by European Union.

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