Benislos Thushan

Experience

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  Daily Mirror

  Jan 2013 - Dec 2014

  Journalist

  Daily Mirror is an English National Newspaper of Wijaya Newspapers Ltd. My writing revolves around metropolitan development, socio-economic problems and concerns of the citizens, politics, feature writing, interviewing, medicine and public health. Writing style both includes news reporting as well as reflection of opinions.I report mainly on the regions such as Colombo, North and East of Sri Lanka and other parts of the Island as well.

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  Verite Research

  Jan 2013 - Oct 2013

  Research Assistant

  Authenticity of the mainstream media and journalism are consistently questioned and misinterpretations involved are sighted as an impediment for social integration in Sri Lankan context.Verite research produces weekly media briefing on English, Tamil and Sinhala newspapers. The coverage area includes national politics, diplomacy and international affairs.Responsibility of being a Research Assistant requires effective scrutiny and selection of the stories, briefing the stories succinctly within 50 words count, assigning tonality to the story on how media portrays and the impact of the content on concerned client and assessing the inter-relationship of a story content between mono-lingual media platforms.Finalized Reportage contains the briefed stories of the concerned field with the coverage of English, Tamil and Sinhala newspapers and the way stories are covered. This gives a reader of the reportage; the ability distinguish the authenticity of the content and how the stories are interpreted / misinterpreted. Show less

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  'Everyday Sri Lanka'

  Jan 2014 - Jan 2021

  Editor

  'everyday' is an Instagram digital story telling initiative that is globally launched. Under this project, photographs with compelling narratives are collected from photographers and instagrammers throughout the region and published.'everydayafrica' was the inaugural edition which is successfully trailing towards the 1000th post with 91,000+ followers globally. Following the realization of its vitality and virality, similar projects are launched throughout the world such as 'everydaymiddleeast', 'everydayasia' and 'everydaysrilanka' is one among them.Project 'everyday' aims to provide a genuine view of the grassroots of the region through photographs and compelling narratives. It tends to break the typical stereotypes and biased portrayal about regions which have been influenced by misinterpreted journalism, thus providing the follower a genuine perspective of the real context.You can visit 'everydaysrilanka' site using the following URL:http://instagram.com/everydaysrilanka Show less

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  In Bodies Not Our Own

  Nov 2014 - Dec 2014

  Team Lead

  In Bodies Not Our own is the first ever crowd-writing book written in Sri Lanka, contributed by over 200 writing enthusiasts.Eight different stories are written by eight different groups. Although all the stories revolve around Sri Lankan conflict and its post independent times; each story focus on one ethnic group. During the process of crowd writing; groups are assigned homogeneously comprising people of same ethnic demography . Each group is given the theme about the other ethnic group and each writer is required to write from the point of view of the other ethnic group through empathy.Having the baggage of ethnic tensions; the exercise of empathy pushes them to accept the reality and honor the dignity of the characters from the ethnic groups. Having given the plot; each member of the group contributes randomly to the story; taking from where the previous writer has left and adding his or her perspective via empathy. This devolves the creative process in the hands of every writer while taking the story through completely unanticipated twists and turns.The process of crowd-writing is curated through facebook group assigned for the project. The plot is given as the status updates and the members of the group contribute via comments. And the process lasted for a week time to collectively weave a coherent story with empathy. Show less

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  Office for National Unity and Reconciliation

  Jul 2015 - Jul 2019

  Office for National Unity and Reconciliation, generally known as "ONUR" is a government institution gazetted under the Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation to which the President is the minister. ONUR is chaired by former President Madam Chadrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.ONUR is the key state institution mandated to carry out the Reconciliation Agenda of the newly elected government and 'non-recurrence' component of the Transitional Justice process via Programmatic and Policy based dual pronged approaches.I work as a Programme Officer from planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Programmes organized by ONUR in the following departments :- Communications- Education for Reconciliation- Economic Empowerment-Women for Reconciliation Show less

  • Facilitator

    Feb 2016 - Jul 2019

  • Senior Program Officer

    Jul 2015 - Jul 2019
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  IDesigns

  Nov 2015 - Oct 2017

  Co-Founder

  iDesigns is a social enterprise/creative agency specializing in Graphic Design, Motion Graphics, Documentary making and social media curation & consultations; working with leading businesses, government institutions and not-for profit organizations cateringto their everyday design and communication needs.

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  Digital Storytelling

  Mar 2016 - now

  Founder & Chief Strategist

  Digital Storytelling is an Educational platform to equip, empower and transform youth to be citizen journalists and responsible digital citizens in their communities. Mainstream media has been one of the main root causes of the conflict in Sri Lanka, polarising citizens along ethnic, religious and language lines. In the digital age where everyone possess the skills and resources to tell stories, we strive to empower the digital citizens with the knowledge, skills, tools and networks to be pro-active digital citizens and digital guardians in their communities.Our main focus areas are:- Digital Storytelling- Social Media and Digital Literacy- Critical Media and Information Literacy- Cyber Security- Citizen Journalism (MoJo) Show less

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  American Spaces

  Mar 2016 - May 2022

  Lecturer

  - Training youth from the marginalised communities on digital storytelling, social media and digital literacy, information and critical media literacy, citizen journalism (MoJo) and cyber-security.- Conducting special workshops on themes affecting youth and civil liberties.- Building a network of Digital Citizens as a part of early warning system in the communities they are part of.- Training the participants on optimum usage of available digital and online tools

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  British Council

  Sept 2016 - Sept 2021

  Facilitator

  Facilitating Active Citizens Training aimed at empowering youth to initiate and carry out Social Action Projects to effect change in their communities.

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  Sri Lanka Unites

  Mar 2017 - Apr 2020

  - Executive body making strategic and administrative decision about the progress of the movement- Advising and administrative guidance to the National Directors in the day today progress of the movement- Strategic guidance to the Departments while overseeing their progress

  • National Committee

    Apr 2015 - Apr 2020

  • Head of Communications

    Mar 2017 - Oct 2017
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  H V Perera QC Memorial Moot Competition

  Mar 2020 - Sept 2021

  Head Of Public Relations

  H V Perera QC Memorial Moot Competition is Sri Lanka's only International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition hosted by Sri Lanka Law College. The fourth instalment was conducted virtually for the first time with the participation of teams from all around the world.Key responsibilities as the Head of PR- Rethinking and complete overhaul of traditional PR to fit the new normal- Virtualization of Victor's Moot experience- Rebranding of the Victor's Moot - Development of Social Media Strategy- Execution of virtual closing ceremony Show less

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  International Republican Institute

  Sept 2020 - now

  Training Consultant

  Worked as training facilitator and curriculum development specialist for.various initiatives by IRI Sri Lanka- Women's Campaign Academy : Campaign communications, digital campaigning and political storytelling training- Emerging Leaders' Academy: digital storytelling, youth political participation, digital security, media literacy- Party trainings : Digital campaigning and political storytelling

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  IREX

  Nov 2020 - now

  Educational Consultant

  IREX is an international organisation that strives for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive.Key responsibilities:- Adaptation of 'Learn to Discern' curriculum into Sri Lankan native Tamil language.- Training of citizens on Learn to Discern Webinar series- Training of Citizen Trainers and Capacity Development

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  Search for Common Ground

  Dec 2020 - now

  Training Consultant

  Search for Common Ground, Sri Lanka is working to promote cooperative engagement across traditional dividing lines in Sri Lanka to create a more inclusive national identity, especially through work with youth, women, and community media.'WeGital Initiative' by SFCG and funded by SRP and European Union focusing on building the capacity of youth from North, East and Central provinces on understanding social media, countering harmful content online and digital advocacy through series of virtual camps, to promote social cohesion and youth led peace building.- Training of youth from North, East and Central Provinces on social media, critical media literacy, creating counter narratives and Digital Advocacy for 'WeGital' Fellows.- Mentoring teams of 'WeGital' fellows on producing social media products.- Advanced Training for selected Fellows on MiroBoard for team led community solutions during pandemic, digital storytelling, digital peacebuilding, animation based storytelling and facebook advertising to further their digital advocacy initiatives. Show less

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  Hashtag Generation

  May 2021 - now

  Capacity Building & Communications Consultant

  Hashtag Generation is a non-partisan youth led organization advocating for youth participation in decision-making, strengthening women’s civic and political engagement, advocacy for the rights of ethnic, religious and sexual minorities and raising awareness on the importance of cyber security and countering misinformation and online hate speech.Key responsibilities:- Strategic Communications- Training youth, members of civil society, media, religious leaders and political leaders on focus areas- Messaging and communications strategy Show less

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  Moot Society of Sri Lanka Law College

  Jun 2021 - Oct 2022

  Editor

  Moot Society of Sri Lanka Law College is one of the oldest and prestigious student body contributing to the advocacy, written and oral capacity development of law students.Key responsibilities:- Development of annual content strategy- Rebranding of the Moot Society and the development of new visual language- Social Media and outreach strategy- Redesigning of education first content strategy from conventional update bases system- Training and capacity building of successors Show less

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  U.S. House of Representatives

  Sept 2022 - Oct 2022

  Professional Fellow on Governance and Public Policy

  Worked at the Office of Congressman Dwight Evans representing the third congressional district of Pennsylvania, as a Professional Fellow on Governance and Public Policy.The responsibilities included:- Shadowing the Congressman- Research support- Public relations - Field level support for canvassing and ward meetings

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  Law chambers of President's Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran

  Aug 2023 - Apr 2024

  Legal Apprentice

  Practicing as a legal apprentice under President's Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran who practices civil litigation, human rights, constitutional law, commercial law and administrative law in both appellate and original jurisdictions with over 33 years of experience.

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  Supreme Court of Sri Lanka

  May 2024 - now

  Attorney At Law

  Practicing as Junior Counsel in the Law Chambers of President's Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran who practices civil litigation, human rights, constitutional law, commercial law and administrative law in both appellate and original jurisdictions with over 33 years of experience.