SAWM-SL launches groundbreaking AI training for women in media

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By Editor_1
Sharmini Boyle, Trustee, SAWM- Sri Lanka, making the welcome speech at the first of the three training workshops on ‘Enhancing Understanding and Knowledge of AI Among Women in the Media’ at the Mandarina Hotel, Colombo, on Tuesday (November 4, 2025) - SAWM -SL

COLOMBO – In a pioneering effort to enhance the understanding and skills in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) among Sri Lankan women journalists and content creators, the South Asian Women in Media (SAWM) -Sri Lanka on Tuesday (4) conducted the first of three training workshops titled ‘Enhancing Understanding and Knowledge of AI Among Women in the Media’ at the Mandarina Hotel, Colombo. 

The initiative is part of a project implemented by SAWM–Sri Lanka with the support of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka under its human rights portfolio.

Iwan Rutjens, Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands Embassy to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, a special guest at the opening session,  said AI, as the latest technological revolution of humankind, is shaping and reshaping many things, including journalism, presenting both challenges and great opportunities.

Iwan Rutjens, Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands Embassy to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, a special guest at the opening session on Tuesday (November 4, 2025)

“We are pleased that under the project implemented by SAWM-Sri Lanka, two of our priorities; gender equality and freedom of expression, are being addressed,” he said,  adding that the project is also timely as it comes three weeks before the launch of the global campaign to end violence against women, Orange the World, which this year is being held on the theme ‘Unite to end digital violence against all women and girls’. The workshops are a perfect match for Orange the World campaign, he added.

“AI has made dramatic changes to newsgathering, dissemination and receiving information and that media outlets around the world are using AI for content creation, information gathering and data analysis,” the Deputy Ambassador said,  but cautioned that while AI can increase newsroom efficiency and effectiveness,  unfortunately it has also been used by different actors for information manipulation, disinformation and to create undue influences.

Rutjens noted that despite the popularity and usefulness of different AI tools, new challenges have also emerged, blocking or slowing down global efforts to guarantee equal rights for women and girls.  “According to the UN, digital tools are increasingly being used to stalk, harass, and abuse women and girls. Image manipulation, deepfake videos and certain apps are being used to target women as AI is gaining popularity and becoming more widespread, he said, adding that technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), using generative AI is causing harm and distress to women and girls, and that these new threats should be countered and defeated.

Highlighting the important role journalists play in communities, Rutjens impressed on the need for journalists to know and familiarize themselves with what opportunities and challenges are posed by AI, and that it was particularly important for women journalists, as they may become a target not only because they are journalists, but also because they are female journalists.

In her welcome, Sharmini Boyle, Trustee, SAWM – Sri Lanka, said the training workshops were the first of their kind to be held in Sri Lanka, targeted, custom-designed, and AI-focused, with a view to improving the capacities of women journalists in the country.

“SAWM SL has made every effort over the past 16 years to conduct initiatives to improve the skills and professional status of women in the media – and we are proud to be able to do this again today, on a topic that is so new and important, particularly for journalists and even more especially for women in the media,” she said.

Women journalists and content creators getting hands-on training on AI tools from Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa, a subject specialist of international reputation

The in-person, one-day workshops, designed and delivered by Dr  Sanjana Hattotuwa, a subject specialist of international repute, cover key topics such as AI tools for journalism, verification, and digital safety.

The second workshop for Sinhala language participants was held on Thursday (6), and the third workshop for Tamil language journalists will be on November 11.

Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa observing the participants in action on the 2nd workshop conducted in the Sinhala language on Thursday (November 6, 2025)

SAWM Sri Lanka received close to 150 applications from 14 districts for the three-part training program, highlighting women practitioners’ need for AI knowledge and skills.

-SAWM -SL

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