Sri Lanka to Launch National Assessment on Social Media’s Impact on Children

By Lions Roar Aotearoa Digital Governance Desk

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (Saturday, January 31, 2026) — The Government of Sri Lanka is set to initiate a comprehensive national assessment and policy review regarding the impact of social media on children. Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eranga Weeraratne, announced the move, highlighting the urgent need for a coordinated framework to protect the nation’s youth in an increasingly digital world.

The initiative is a collaborative effort involving three key ministries: the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.

🛡️ A Multi-Sectoral Approach to Digital Safety

The Deputy Minister emphasized that the program will not operate in isolation but will instead integrate insights from a wide range of disciplines to ensure a holistic protective environment for children.

• Expert Collaboration: The assessment will involve specialists from child protection, education, physical health, and mental health sectors.
• Technical & Legal Oversight: Experts in cyber security and digital law will review existing policies to address modern threats like cyberbullying and data privacy.
• Inclusive Dialogue: A core pillar of the plan is listening to the voices of civil society, parents, and specifically young people themselves, to understand their first-hand experiences on digital platforms.

🧠 Focus on Mental Health and Cybersecurity

With the rise of internet penetration among school-aged children, the government aims to tackle specific digital stressors that affect academic performance and psychological well-being.

“Our objective is to move forward by listening to the voices of youth and civil society. We need to ensure that the digital economy grows without compromising the mental health and safety of our next generation,” stated Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne.

📋 Key Objectives of the Policy Review