On January 9th, 2024, an insightful symposium titled “Navigating the Changing Landscape of Media Regulations” was conducted for first-year undergraduate students enrolled in the Mass Communication Honors Degree program in University of Kelaniya. The event aimed to enhance their understanding of media laws, crucial for their future roles in the Sri Lankan Media Industry.
Organized by the Center for Study of Media and Human Rights in collaboration with the Media Law Forum in Sri Lanka, the symposium featured four distinguished resource persons from the Media Law Forum.
Mr. Shan Wijetunga, a senior journalist in Print and Electronic Media and Former Director at the Sri Lanka College of Journalism, led the first session. He addressed challenges in New and social media, stressing the significance of regular engagement with mass media for undergraduate students.
In the second session, Mr. Kulasri Kariyawasam, another seasoned journalist in Print and Electronic Media, delved into ethical concerns in New and social media, illustrating his points with practical examples from the Sri Lankan context.
Mr. Viranjan Herath, an attorney at Law and Chairperson of the Media Law Forum, conducted the third session, providing an in-depth analysis of Media Laws and emerging regulations impacting freedom of speech.
The final session, led by Mr. Parbodha Rathnayake, an attorney at Law and Director of Operation at Media Law Forum, focused on real-world instances of freedom of expression violations, enlightening students on their role in advancing media law literacy.
The symposium concluded with closing remarks from Probationary Lecturer Dasini I. Madurasinghe, Coordinator of the Center for Study of Media and Human Rights, Department of Mass Communication.
This event equipped Mass Communication undergraduate students with valuable insights and knowledge to navigate the dynamic Sri Lankan media landscape as future professionals.