Dr. Viranjana Herath AAL, Chairperson and Legal Consultant of the Media Law Forum, represented Sri Lanka at the Regional Workshop on “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in South Asia through the Implementation of the UNESCO Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms,” held at Tribhuvan University from March 24 to 27.
The workshop brought together more than 90 participants, including regulators, parliamentarians, policymakers, civil society representatives, journalists, academics, youth leaders, and digital governance experts from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The event served as a key regional platform to examine emerging challenges and opportunities in digital platform governance.
The primary objective of the workshop was to advance discussions and take practical steps toward finalising two regional guideline frameworks—one targeting policymakers and regulators, and the other designed for civil society actors. These toolkits aim to support the implementation of the UNESCO “Internet for Trust Guidelines,” with a focus on enhancing accountability, transparency, and inclusiveness across South Asia.
During the workshop, Dr. Herath served as a panellist in the session titled “Regional Perspectives on Digital Platform Governance,” presenting insights on the Sri Lankan context. He also contributed to reviewing the draft Civil Society Toolkit, presented key observations, and facilitated discussions to strengthen its practical relevance and effectiveness.
