Desa Live @9: Live Discussion with Political Representatives from Matara

Date: 20 January 2018
Location: Matara, Sri Lanka
Programme: Desa Live @9
Discussion Topic: What Does the Future Hold for Matara?
Guests: Aruna Gunaratne and Ranjith Yasaratne
Platform: Facebook Live - Desa Hambantota
Hosted by: Isura Wickramarachchi
Advertised Broadcast Time: 9:00 PM

On 20 January 2018, I organized an episode of my "Desa Live @9" Facebook discussion series in Matara, featuring Aruna Gunaratne and Ranjith Yasaratne as invited guests.

The programme was presented under the theme "What Does the Future Hold for Matara?" Its purpose was to explore perspectives on the area's future development, local governance, and the needs of its communities.

According to the promotional poster, Aruna Gunaratne was introduced as a Southern Provincial Council member, while Ranjith Yasaratne was identified as a former Mayor of Matara. Bringing together individuals associated with different levels of local and provincial administration was intended to provide an opportunity to discuss Matara's future from their respective perspectives.

The programme was organized during the period leading up to Sri Lanka's 2018 local government elections. At that time, local development priorities, municipal services, and the responsibilities of local authorities were matters of public discussion.

By focusing on Matara, I sought to extend the scope of my "Desa" discussion series beyond national political issues and give attention to matters directly relevant to regional communities.

The episode was promoted for a 9:00 PM live broadcast through the "Desa Hambantota" Facebook page. A dedicated promotional poster featured both guests, the discussion theme, and the scheduled broadcast details.

Through the wider series, I worked to organize discussions with political representatives and professionals from different parts of Sri Lanka. My aim was to use Facebook Live as a communication platform through which regional concerns and public affairs could reach a broader audience.

My responsibilities included coordinating invited guests, selecting programme themes, preparing promotional artwork, and hosting live discussions. These activities contributed to my experience in digital media production, programme coordination, and public communication.

This programme, dated 20 January 2018, forms part of my personal timeline as an example of my efforts to encourage discussion about regional development and local governance through social media.