Attorney-at-Law Dulmini Ekanayake, Project Manager of the Media Law Forum (MLF), participated in a panel discussion titled “Resilience in Practice” at the Beyond the Algorithm public event organised by Democracy Reporting International (DRI) on 30 October 2026 at Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo.
The discussion brought together representatives from civil society organisations and media actors to explore practical approaches to addressing disinformation and harmful narratives through fact-checking, public advocacy, media literacy and institutional engagement.
Representing the Media Law Forum, Dulmini Ekanayake shared the organisation’s experiences in strengthening responsible election reporting, promoting media freedom and improving journalists’ understanding of election-related legal frameworks.
She highlighted the importance of equipping journalists with knowledge of the revised 2025 Election Media Guidelines, election campaign finance regulations, digital political advertising rules and legal frameworks relating to hate speech, misinformation and disinformation. The discussion also addressed the emerging challenges associated with generative AI and its use in election campaigns and digital news production.
As part of its commitment to strengthening the media sector, the Media Law Forum has implemented 20 capacity-building information sessions under the Strengthening Resilience Against Disinformation in Sri Lanka project, in partnership with Democracy Reporting International (DRI) and Factum, with co-funding from the European Union.
The programme included 10 sessions with media institutions in and around Colombo and another 10 sessions across provincial areas. Conducted in Sinhala, Tamil and English, these sessions engaged journalists, editors and digital media professionals, providing practical knowledge on election reporting, media regulations, digital political advertising, information verification, online safety and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
The panel also explored a critical challenge facing organisations working against disinformation: how to respond to harmful content while protecting freedom of expression and avoiding unnecessary restrictions on media freedom.
Participants further discussed opportunities for stronger collaboration among civil society organisations, media institutions, fact-checking organisations, electoral institutions and digital platforms. The importance of shared resources, research, training and long-term partnerships was highlighted as essential to building a more resilient information ecosystem in Sri Lanka.
Through its ongoing legal advocacy, capacity-building and media awareness initiatives, the Media Law Forum continues to support journalists and media professionals in navigating the evolving legal and digital environment while safeguarding freedom of expression and democratic values.
The event was organised under the Strengthening Resilience Against Disinformation in Sri Lanka project, co-funded by the European Union.
