About this blog

Hi and welcome to my blog.

Since the late 90’s, I have been interested in and written publicly on the use of technology and media for peacebuilding. While there are now hundreds of examples of ICTs used in conflict prevention, mitigation, and transformation, this was not the case when I first started to express my belief that ICTs would change the face of peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

In 2003, I helped setup InfoShare in Sri Lanka to pursue some of the possibilities of using ICT for peace in Sri Lanka in 2003. Based on this experience, I completed an Advanced Masters as a Rotary World Peace Fellow in Australia on Computer Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW), ICT and Peacebuilding. At around this time, I was also introduced to Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) – another interesting use of technology to resolve commercial disputes. My growing interest in ODR led me to push the boundaries of its theory and application – introducing seasoned practitioners to the complex domains of ethno-political conflict and its transformation. I was made a Fellow of The National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution in recognition of my input into the theory and practice of ODR in 2006. In 2008, I became the first Sri Lankan to receive the prestigious Ashoka News & Knowledge Entrepreneur Fellowship.

Much of my public writing and research on ICT4Peace is available from my personal website.

Since 2006, I have been involved in a number of efforts that have used new media, mobiles, the Internet and the web to amplify dissent in Sri Lanka. These include the award winning citizen journalism initiative Groundviews, Vikalpa, Vikalpa Video, Voices of Reconciliation Radio, mainstream media bias monitoring, community radio on the Internet, advising youth groups on web activism and in-depth reports into the tradional, community and new media landscapes in Sri Lanka.

In the capacity as a Special Advisor to the ICT4Peace Foundation, I have since 2007 worked with the UN’s Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO) to establish a coherent and UN wide crisis information management architecture. In 2008, I was the chief author of a report on the capabilities and capacities in the UN to deal with crises, and continue to actively work on this process.

My interests also extend to the use of ICTs in humanitarian aid. In this regard, I have authored substantive papers, participated and provided input to critical workshops at the UN and have also been associated with significant non-governmental efforts to advance the state of the art in the field of humanitarian aid and crisis response.

This blog is an attempt to cover issues on a regular basis that are of interest to me as an early visionary, thought-leader and practitioner of ICT4Peace. The work I do is challenging, but no more so than peacebuilding writ large. I am convinced that ICTs (including mobile phones) can and already do make a significant impact on and difference in conflict transformation, even in countries like Sri Lanka. This blog is a record of my failures, limited triumphs and more importantly, small steps taken towards the greater integration of ICTs in all aspects and all stages of peacemaking.

Please join me.

Some key posts:
Technology for non-violent struggle?
What is ICT4Peace?
Serious questions for ICT4Peace