Ministry of Defence  – Media Centre

General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University’s Faculty of Defence & Strategic Studies (FDSS) and the Centre for Strategic Assessment (CSA) hosted the Signature Seminar addressing the issues of Responding to Disinformation and Building Disinformation Resilience with the gracious presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. M.U.M. Ali Sabry PC MP as the Chief Guest on December 14.

This consequential event was committed to expounding upon the intricate challenges posed by disinformation within the contemporary global landscape, with a specific focus on devising strategies to bolster resilience against this dynamically evolving threat.

The conference was structured into three distinct sessions, each delineated by the overarching themes of “Strategic & International Relations,” “Political Economic & Legal,” and “Social Engineering & Operational Challenges.” Nine distinguished speakers, comprising both international and Sri Lankan authorities, actively contributed their insights and ideas throughout the entirety of the conference. The foreign experts engaged in the discussion sharing insights from their respective national experiences while drawing some parallels with Sri Lanka. The experts represented France, India, and Malaysia, contributing valuable perspectives to the discussions.

Vice Chancellor of KDU Rear Admiral HGU Dammika Kumara, delivered the welcome address and subsequently, Hon. Ali Sabry addressed the audience underscoring the paramount significance of tackling disinformation within the realm of Strategic and International Relations.

The Foreign Secretary, Aruni Wijewardena delivered an address to the audience, emphasizing the paramount importance of fostering disinformation resilience and she extended her appreciation to KDU for its pivotal role in leading this noteworthy effort.

The first session, under the moderation of Director CSA Dr. Harinda Vidanage, delved into the nuances of Strategic and International Relations. Editor In Chief of Stratnewsglobal.in,  Nitin A Gokhale, Additional Secretary/Multilateral Affairs, MFA U.L.M. Jauhar, and Norashikin Sahol Hamid from the National Defence University of Malaysia imparted their insightful perspectives.

The second session commenced with an introduction by the moderator, setting the stage for compelling presentations by Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, Actg. DG Data Protection Authority Waruna Dhanapala and Senior Vice President Global Alliances and Partnerships, John Keels Dileep Mudadeniya.

The culminating session focused on intricate subjects of social engineering and operational challenges featured presentations by Coordinator in Charge of Healthcare Donor Activities and Diplomatic Affairs, Ministry of Health Dr. Anver Hamdani, Head of Unit for Analysis and Strategic Communication / French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Charles Thepaut and Business Consultant on Digital Transformation Isura Silva.

The subsequent participants’ discussion served as a platform for diverse viewpoints on the political, economic and legal dimensions of mitigating disinformation.

The Signature Seminar on Responding to Disinformation and Building Disinformation Resilience is the first ever combined effort of the stakeholders and proved to be a beacon of erudition.

The event convened distinguished dignitaries, experts, scholars and professionals to collectively address the complexities of disinformation, fostering a holistic comprehension of the challenges and opportunities within the contemporary information landscape.