The first workshop of the “Promoting Non-Violent Communication (NVC) and Responsible Use of Media” project was held on the 10th of March 2021 at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies. Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic, Professor Jayantha Ariyarathne graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The event was witnessed by other guests such as Dean of the Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities (FMSH), Senior Academics, Project Coordinators and the resource persons who delivered the sessions of the workshop.

Forty-three (43) officers representing the Tri-Forces and Police participated in the workshop, and Mr. D.P.S.K Wijesignhe, Media Advisor – Directorate of Army Media also attended the workshop. The resource persons of the workshop comprised of Mr. Indika Perera, Dr. Harinda Vidanage, and Dr. Dayani Panagoda, and they covered the topics of Non-Violent Communication, Media and Security, and; Gender Based Violence and Media respectively. The closing event was graced by the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Defence and Administration, Brigadier Wipula Chandrasiri RSP USP psc, Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic, Professor Jayantha Ariyarathne, Mr. Kithsiri Amaratunga – Dean of the Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities (FMSH), Colonel HMGE Herath RSP USP psc – Dean of the Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies; and the workshop was concluded with the awarding of certificates to the participants.

The workshop was organized by the Department of Social Sciences, FMSH and is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the European Union. The project includes a series of workshops along with other activities such as the establishment of a Center for Media Studies and the development of an academic programme on Media and Communication Studies.