Two delegates from the Media Diversity Institute (MDI) in the UK, Ms. Milica Pesic, Executive Director, and Ms. Roxane Biedermann, Project Manager, visited the Department of Mass Communication on the 6th of February, engaging in productive discussions with department representatives.
The meeting, proposed by MDI, aimed to explore potential collaborations between academia and the MDI to enhance diversity and inclusion. Discussions revolved around sharing knowledge and experiences related to media studies, focusing on current social factors such as gender diversity and inclusivity. Participants also discussed how research initiatives at the department could support joint projects conducted by MDI on media diversity.
The session concluded with expressions of gratitude as MDI delegates presented a commemorative book marking the institute's 25th anniversary. The book features insights from stakeholders and journalists collaborating with MDI over the years.
Representing the Department of Mass Communication were Senior Lecturer Wijayananda Rupasinghe, Head of the Department; Senior Lecturer Dammika Bandara Herath, Coordinator of the Master of Arts in Mass Communication course; Lecturer Ileka Ruwanpathirana, Coordinator of the Communication Research Unit; and Lecturer (Probationary) Dasini I Madurasinghe, Coordinator of the Center for the Study of Media and Human Rights.
The MDI is a UK-based non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting responsible coverage of diversity issues, combating stereotypes and disinformation, and enhancing media and information literacy locally and internationally.
Mr Dudley Sirisena, the Chairman of Araliya Group of Companies was invited for a guest lecture on the topic of ‘Entrepreneurship, Use of Media and Public Relations’ by the Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya. The guest lecture was arranged as a partial requirement for the subject of Media Entrepreneurship in the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations and Media Management course and it was held January 14, 2024, at the Auditorium of Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya. As one of the leading and successful self-made entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka, Mr Sirisena shared his immense knowledge and experience among the students of Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations and Media Management and the undergraduates of the Department of Mass Communication.
While sharing his life story of becoming the Chairman of Araliya Group of companies, Mr Sirisena highlighted the specific skills and strategies he learnt and developed throughout his journey to become a successful, self-made entrepreneur in the country. He was humble enough to reveal both the successes and failures he faced in his life journey and the lessons he learnt from his failures. He further explained how the quality of his products and services and the positive public relations he and his companies maintain with the public enable him to remain as a stable entrepreneur despite allocating large proportions on advertising campaigns.
After the speech of Mr Sirisena, the floor was opened for a Questions and Answers session. The Q & A session that was unfolded for about one hour became interactive as several interesting questions were raised by the audience and Mr Sirisena further shared his knowledge and experience with the audience while responding to those questions. The overall event became a success as the audience expressed their satisfaction at gaining insights from a business mogul who started his business journey from an odd job that paid him only Rs. 5.00.
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