Who paid for the political ads Sri Lankan voters saw during the 2024 election?
More than 30 different currencies were used to fund political advertising targeting Sri Lanka.
Here's why that matters. 🧵
The world, Europe, and Spain have faced this critical moment before. In 2003, a few irresponsible leaders dragged us into an illegal war in the Middle East that brought nothing but insecurity and pain.
Our response then must be our response now:
NO to violations of international law.
NO to the illusion that we can solve the world’s problems with bombs.
NO to repeating the mistakes of the past.
NO TO WAR.
https://t.co/KpRjBfwY4B
During elections, the “silence period” is meant to protect voter reflection.
In 2024, that silence did not fully extend online.
We analysed 22,974 political ads on Facebook & Instagram during the parliamentary elections. 🧵
This is the same SLC that convinced ICC to suspend it in late 2023, so that the SLC board could win a domestic battle against the country's then sports minister.
The result of that self-ban was that SL could not host an Under 19 World Cup. Those hotel rooms were also cancelled
OGBV follows clear patterns:
🗣️ Hate speech
🚫 Sexual harassment
⚠️ Threats
These tactics reshape political debate and deter participation, creating a chilling effect for women in leadership.
📄 Full study: https://t.co/RuimKAUBji
Co-funded by @EU_Commission | with @factumlk
Disinformation does not remain isolated. It migrates. 🧭
Narratives move from niche platforms into broader discourse. We observe this dynamic in recent online discussions concerning PM @Dr_HariniA.
High visibility is used as a tool to normalize harassment and drown out facts.
Truth is not the engine of virality. Repetition is. 🔁
A new DRI study reveals a dangerous reality: harmful narratives do not spread because they are factual. They spread because they are repeated until they appear normal.
This "repetition effect" is a primary fuel for OGBV.
⚠️ As women gain visibility in Sri Lankan politics, exposure to online violence grows.
During the recent election cycle, higher visibility led to more online attacks against women politicians.
Men did not see the same rise.
⚖️Visibility should not come with harassment.
Hope the first act of a new government will be to repeal the OLS Bill. We have enough repressive laws without adding another to the arsenal used to stifle dissent, clamp down of freedom of speech/expression. @RW_UNP@PodujanaParty digging themselves deeper into the hole with this one.
AIC @asia_aic refutes "certain assertions" by #lka Min of Public Security in @ParliamentLK about #OnlineSafetyBillLK & says #OnlineSafetyBill "is unworkable & would undermine potential growth and foreign direct investment into #SriLanka’s digital economy" https://t.co/sgiNUb0lAh
A good lesson from an East African leader:Tanzanian President has cancelled Independence celebrations & used money to build 6 dormitories for schools: https://t.co/IeE68XWeXy
Ranil doesn’t own the IMF negotiations. Remember that negotiations started way before he became the Prime Minister. IMF negotiate with the government, not with Ranil on individual basis. So Ranil becoming the President isn’t a deciding factor for an IMF program.
.@TRCSL Chairman, why did you lie? Whose money pays your wages? Suppressing information is one thing. Lying is another. Telco sources also confirmed the letter was sent. If the head of the REGULATORY AUTHORITY lies, what governance? #SriLanka
This is meaningless . He will sit in cabinet , take policy decisions , get involved in tender processes etc. so his companies & those of his friends benefit . This is just one side of how corrupt systems are in SL.
Would like to offer my sincerest congratulations to the Sri Lankan parliamentarians on their new apartments.
Thank you @GotabayaR@RW_UNP 👏🏾👏🏾 for bringing much needed economic stability to #SriLanka