Another major program in the series of activities linked to the Social Media Declaration(SMD) was held at the University of Jaffna on the 26th, spanning the whole day. The program consisted of two main parts.
The first part was an awareness session, with a special lecture on the Social Media Declaration(SMD) and related new trends, conducted at the main hall of the Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna. Opening the program, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. S. Ragura, shared his remarks. This was followed by a presentation from Sampath Samarakoon, Researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives(CPA), who spoke about the objectives of the Social Media Declaration, its impact on Sri Lanka’s social media landscape, and expectations for the future.
The keynote lecture was delivered by Dr. Sanjana Hattotuwa, who gave an in-depth talk on new Sri Lankan as well as global trends in social media and online spaces, and their relationship to democracy and human rights in Sri Lanka. Following his lecture, more than 100+ university students were given the opportunity to present their views. They raised significant points and questions, which helped keep the program vibrant and interactive.
Afterward, Ms. Poongulaly Sri Sangeerathan, Head of the Department of Media Studies, also shared her thoughts.
The session was moderated by Fatima Safa and Lukirtha Tharumalingam, students of the University of Jaffna and members of the “Training of Trainers on Online Safety” program connected to the Social Media Declaration(SMD).
The second segment of the program introduced a new space called the “SMD Room”, which ran throughout the day at the University of Jaffna. This space focused on awareness raising, knowledge sharing, discussions, and dialogues around social media, online safety, digital rights, and broader human rights. A large number of students participated, and the involvement of faculty members added special significance.
For this program, Mr. Duminda Sampath, President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, and the President of the Jaffna Press Club, also participated as invited guests.
The event was organized by the Centre for Policy Alternatives(CPA), / Collective for Social Media Declaration (CSMD) with facilitation led by members of the “Training of Trainers on Online Safety” program.
Attached here is a folder of photographs capturing these special moments.
##
[SMD ROOM]:
“A Safe Space for Digital Rights and Social Responsibility”
[Digital Rights | Social Responsibility | Safety and Security]
SMD Room is a new space designed to promote “ethical social media usage” built on human rights principles, with a vision of social responsibility and an ethical framework. It is also an open room for sharing practical knowledge, challenges and solutions, and a culture of responsibility regarding our behavior on the internet and how we use technology. Rather than simple conversations, this is a space that combines a dialogue hub, learning and practical lab, and meaningful community connections.
Its purpose is to support the development of freedom of expression, right to privacy, information rights, digital rights, human dignity, and digital literacy, while helping to build a social media culture based on social responsibility.
SMD Room can be identified as both a physical and online platform, functioning not as a place of restriction, but as a shared learning space with social responsibility based on free-open dialogue and human rights. It operates on fundamental approaches including meetings, personal discussions, public discussions, learning, collaborative learning, exploration, and sharing.
Core Activities and Interactions
• Meetings and workshops
• Personal and public discussions
• Educational and research exploration
• Observation and analysis
• Sharing experiences and knowledge
Target Areas
1. Online Safety – Protecting your personal data and devices
2. Human Rights – Recognition and promotion of rights
3. Ethics – Respectful and responsible behavior
4. Social Responsibility – Acknowledging responsibilities both online and offline
5. Privacy – Protecting the boundaries of your personal life
6. Digital Rights and Internet Freedom – A society that respects freedom, openness, and diversity
7. Generative AI – Using new technology ethically and responsibly
(A dialogue hub + learning-practical lab + meaningful community connections)
Core Philosophy: This concept envisions a comprehensive approach to digital citizenship that goes beyond simple rule-following to create a culture of ethical engagement with technology. The SMD Room serves as both an educational resource and a community space where individuals can develop the knowledge, skills, and values needed for responsible participation in our increasingly digital world.]
More Photos: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556610176919
