South Asian Women in Media (SAWM) -Sri Lanka launched its latest training series, Digital Equity SL –Responsible AI Empowering Women, Media & Civil Society, to strengthen AI literacy among multiple sectors in Sri Lanka at the Mandarina Hotel in Colombo on Tuesday 13th October 2026, with the High Commissioner for Canada in Sri Lanka Isabelle Martin as the Guest of Honour.
Supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), the initiative equips Sri Lankan journalists, policy professionals, and civil society leaders with essential tools to navigate artificial intelligence, reduce algorithmic bias, and use data-driven strategies responsibly.
In her opening remarks, the High Commissioner said “I encourage all participants here today to be part of the effort, and to help ensure that technology strengthens, rather than undermines, equality, rights, and freedom of expression. You also have a vital role to play in helping the public understand these technologies, challenging disinformation, exposing digital harms, and ensuring that conversations about AI remain grounded in people, rights, dignity, and democracy.”
As generative AI and automated decision-making systems rapidly reshape public discourse, information ecosystems, and public policy, this hands-on workshop series addresses the urgent need for inclusive digital literacy and gender-sensitive tech governance.
The interactive curriculum covers a range of topics including factchecking AI-generated content, deepfake detection, algorithmic accountability, frameworks for inclusive tech governance, data privacy regulation, leveraging AI tools for advocacy, monitoring digital human rights violations, and countering technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). The training series is being delivered by Dr. Sanjana Hattotuwa, an authority on digital safety, disinformation, and social media.
“Artificial intelligence holds immense potential for Sri Lanka, but without intentional intervention, it risks compounding existing inequalities and spreading misinformation,” said Sharmini Boyle, program lead and trustee, SAWM Sri Lanka. Trustee Hana Ibrahim added that “by bringing journalists, policy advocates, and civil society together into the same training space, we are building a collaborative ecosystem that holds technology accountable while using it to elevate underrepresented voices.”
Designed to train over 120 participants, four other training programs will be conducted on October 20 (Jaffna), October 27 (Kandy), November 3 (Puttalam) and November 10 (Colombo). Each location zeroes in on specialized priorities—from Tamil-language AI models in Jaffna to multi-sector governance in Colombo—ensuring participants leave with actionable prompt toolkits, deepfake detection workflows, and strategies to counter technology-facilitated gender-based violence. The training workshops are being organised in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum and the Jaffna Press Club.
South Asian Women in Media (SAWM) -Sri Lanka is part of a regional network of women working in print, broadcast, and digital media across South Asia. SAWM is dedicated to advocating for media freedom, gender equity in workplaces, and building capacity through professional development and safety initiatives.
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