Lanka School on Internet Governance (lkSIG)
Internet governance has become increasingly important as societies continue to rely on the Internet to support economic growth, innovation, digital transformation, and social development. The growing complexity of issues such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data protection, digital rights, multilingual Internet, digital inclusion, and emerging Internet technologies requires knowledgeable stakeholders who can actively participate in evidence-based policy discussions and multistakeholder decision-making processes.
Sri Lanka has actively participated in regional and global Internet governance initiatives over the past decade through platforms such as the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF), the Asia Pacific School on Internet Governance (APSIG), ICANN, and other international Internet governance forums. The successful hosting of APSIG 2021 in Sri Lanka further strengthened the country’s Internet governance community and demonstrated the value of structured capacity-building programmes in developing future Internet governance leaders. In addition, Sri Lanka has organized national Internet Governance Forums, providing an open platform for multistakeholder dialogue on national digital policy issues.
Building upon these achievements, the Lanka School on Internet Governance (lkSIG) was established as a dedicated national capacity-building initiative to institutionalize Internet governance education in Sri Lanka. Designed in alignment with internationally recognized Internet governance training frameworks, particularly the APSIG model and the principles of the global Internet Governance Forum, lkSIG adapts global best practices to Sri Lanka’s policy landscape and national priorities.
As part of its commitment to strengthening Internet governance capacity-building globally, lkSIG is also a member of the IGF Dynamic Coalition on Schools on Internet Governance (DC-SIG), collaborating with similar initiatives to promote best practices in Internet governance education.
lkSIG 2026
The Lanka School on Internet Governance (lkSIG) 2026 was designed as a two-and-a-half-day residential fellowship programme for a selected cohort of fellows representing diverse stakeholder groups from across Sri Lanka. The residential format provided an immersive learning environment that encouraged continuous interaction among participants, speakers, and organizers, fostering collaboration, networking, peer learning, and multistakeholder dialogue throughout the programme. By bringing fellows together in a shared learning environment, lkSIG 2026 promoted meaningful discussions beyond formal sessions and strengthened the foundation for a sustainable Internet governance community in Sri Lanka.
The programme was structured as an intensive, interactive, and practice-oriented capacity-building initiative that combined global Internet governance knowledge with Sri Lanka’s national policy priorities. The curriculum was developed in alignment with internationally recognized Internet governance education frameworks, particularly the Asia Pacific School on Internet Governance (APSIG) model and the core principles of the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF). While drawing upon international best practices, the curriculum was carefully contextualized to reflect Sri Lanka’s digital transformation agenda, policy landscape, and emerging governance challenges, ensuring that participants gained both a strong conceptual foundation and practical insights applicable to the national and regional context.
Core thematic areas included
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance and Internet Governance
- Data Governance and Data Protection
- The Gig Economy and Internet Governance
- The Internet Governance Ecosystem and the Multistakeholder Model
- Internet Addiction and Responsible Digital Use
- Strengthening Internet Governance Policies in Sri Lanka
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Cross-cutting issues such as digital inclusion, digital rights, gender, accessibility, multilingual Internet, and emerging digital technologies.
lkSIG 2026 Fellowship Programme
The following individuals had been selected to participate at the lkSIG 2026 to be held from 22-24 May, 2026 in Colombo.
| Column1 | First Name | Last Name | Gender | Primary Stakeholder Group |
| 1 | Chandisa Lovindu Randeni | Thenuja Dulwana | Male | Civil Society |
| 2 | Bihara | Malith | Male | Private Sector |
| 3 | E M Mohan Anton | Wijeratna | Male | Government |
| 4 | Nalin | Abeyrathna | Male | Technical Community |
| 5 | Tuwan Azgar | Jaleel | Male | Technical Community |
| 6 | Gayan Pamuditha | Liyanage | Male | Technical Community |
| 7 | Rajasuresh | Rajathurai | Male | Government |
| 8 | Tharanga | Kumara | Male | Government |
| 9 | Ravindu | Kaluarachchi | Male | Government |
| 10 | Sankha Laknath | Jayawardhana Liyanage | Male | Civil Society |
| 11 | Minoshi | Silva | Female | Civil Society |
| 12 | Thilini | Piyumika | Female | Civil Society |
| 13 | Chathuni | Thilakarathne | Female | Academia |
| 14 | Raveena | Weerasinghe | Female | Academia |
| 15 | Akila | Peiris | Male | Private Sector |
| 16 | Sampath Sri | Rajarathne | Male | Private Sector |
| 17 | Himaya | De Silva | Female | Academia |
| 18 | Kavindi | Perera | Female | Youth |
| 19 | T N | Sewwandi | Female | Youth |
| 20 | Pichchakula Arachchilage Rasindu Sahas | Suraweera | Male | Youth |
| 21 | Sahan | Devinda | Male | Youth |
| 22 | Deneth | Kavishka | Male | Youth |
| 23 | Chanuka | Perera | Male | Technical Community |
| 24 | Kaveen | Ekanayake | Male | Youth |
| 25 | Pasindu | Rathnayake | Male | Youth |
| lkSIG 2026 – Agenda | |||
| 22nd to 24th May 2026 | |||
| Date | Session Name | Start Time | End Time |
|
22nd May 2026
|
Registration and Welcome Pack | 16.30 | 17.00 |
| Inauguration | 17.00 | 17.05 | |
| Welcome | 17.05 | 17.10 | |
| Intro Speech by APSIG Chair | 17.10 | 17.20 | |
| Briefing on the Programme, Objectives and the agenda | 17.20 | 17.30 | |
| Key Note Speech | 17.30 | 17.45 | |
| Evolving Nature of Internet and its Governance | 17.45 | 18.45 | |
| Introduction and Networking | 18.45 | 19.30 | |
| Group photo day 01 | 19.30 | 19.40 | |
| Welcome Dinner | 19.40 | 21.30 | |
|
23rd May 2026
|
Internet Governance Ecosystem and the Multistakeholder Model | 9.00 | 9.45 |
| Multi stakeholderism and Emerging Challenges | 9.45 | 10.30 | |
| Tea Break | 10.30 | 10.45 | |
| Gig Economy, Internet and Challenges | 10.45 | 11.45 | |
| Global and regional internet governance issues | 11.45 | 12.30 | |
| Lunch | 12.30 | 13.30 | |
| Cross-Border Data Flows, Data Sovereignty and Data Governance | 13.30 | 14.15 | |
| Upcoming New Round of gTLDs | 14.15 | 15.00 | |
| Tea Break | 15.00 | 15.15 | |
| Multilingual Internet: IDNs and Universal Acceptance | 15.15 | 16.00 | |
| Information Privacy and Internet (Global and legal perspective) | 16.00 | 17.00 | |
| Flash Talks by Fellows | 17.00 | 17.30 | |
|
24th May 2026
|
AI in Security and Data Governance – Governance, Risks and Innovation | 9.00 | 10.00 |
| WSIS and Future of Internet Governance | 10.00 | 10.45 | |
| Tea Break | 10.45 | 11.00 | |
| Access, Disability, Gender, Digital Inclusion and the Digital Divide | 11.00 | 12.00 | |
| Internet Shutdown Roleplay | 12.00 | 13.00 | |
| Lunch | 13.00 | 14.00 | |
| Strengthening Internet Governance Policies in Sri Lanka & Responsible Digital Use | 14.00 | 15.00 | |
| Distribution of Certificates | 15.00 | 15.15 | |
| Feedback Session | 15.15 | 15.30 | |
| Vote of Thanks | 15.30 | 15.35 | |
| Group Photo | 15.35 | 15.45 | |
| Tea Break and Networking | 15.45 | 16.15 | |
