Although the issue of misinformation has existed since ancient times, the digital era has significantly amplified its reach and impact, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood, said the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, Mr. N. Vethanayahan.
He made these remarks while addressing the event titled “Initiation of Information Disruption Research in Sri Lanka and Forum for Building Digital Resilience”, held on Tuesday, 1st July 2025, at Northgate Hotel, Jaffna. The event was jointly organized by the University of Jaffna and LIRNEasia. The Governor graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
In his address, the Governor emphasized the importance of addressing the growing challenge of misinformation:
“We have gathered here to explore how we can collectively respond to a critical issue that profoundly affects our society.”
He highlighted the research initiative undertaken by LIRNEasia to investigate the human and social factors that contribute to the spread of misinformation in Sri Lanka.
“They have conducted a comprehensive study. They have conducted a comprehensive study. The aim of this groundbreaking work is to shed light on how demographics, socioeconomic status, ethnicity and media context influence our susceptibility to trust or critically evaluate information” he noted.
LearnAsia is conducting important research to understand the human factors driving misinformation in Sri Lanka. They have conducted a comprehensive study. The aim of this groundbreaking work is to shed light on how demographics, socioeconomic status, ethnicity and media context influence our susceptibility to trust or critically evaluate information.
The Governor also acknowledged the significance of today’s forum, which explores important questions such as the effectiveness of digital literacy programs in combating misinformation, the impact of various fact-checking strategies, the knowledge that seek a comprehensive response to information disruption and the existing gaps in the procedures and policy.
“LIRNEasia, a prominent Colombo-based think tank, has been at the forefront of promoting policy change and solutions through research since 2004, aiming to improve the lives of people across the Asia Pacific region. Their ongoing commitment to addressing the complexities of misinformation is highly commendable,” he added.
Together, we can work towards a future where informed decision-making prevails and the harmful effects of misinformation are reduced, said the Governor.
Professor C. Sirisakunaraja, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jaffna, Helen Halabaya, Chief Executive Officer of LIRNEasia, and Professor S. Raghuram, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna, participated in the event.
