‘Hithawathi’ by FOUNDATION.LK empowering and educating Sri Lankans about cyber safety

Hithawathi, one of the key initiatives of FOUNDATION.LK, continues to make a notable impact in enhancing cyber safety in Sri Lanka as it completes 11 years of operations.

Hithawathi, which translates to “female confidante” in Sinhala, is a national social empowerment initiative that addresses the urgent needs of vulnerable individuals – particularly women and girls – affected by cyber violence. The project provides emotional support, instills hope, prevents extreme actions such as suicide, and delivers essential technical assistance and guidance to help resolve cyber-related issues.

The Hithawathi Help Desk support is free and available for individuals who do not feel secure on the internet. Support is offered through multiple channels, including a dedicated hotline, email service, website chat, and messaging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Viber. All services are available in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.

Although there are no gender restrictions on Hithawathi’s services, the hotline is staffed by female officers, who are specially trained to provide better support to female and child callers. The project also emphasizes compassionate and empathetic assistance, recognizing the vulnerable mental state of victims who often feel helpless and desperate. The name Hithawathi reflects the project’s commitment to offering a close, trustworthy, and supportive relationship to all users.

In addition to its direct support services, the Hithawathi project plays a vital role in enhancing cyber safety across Sri Lanka. It does so by raising public awareness, educating communities, and empowering vulnerable groups to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. The initiative also contributes to reducing cyber crimes and online threats through its proactive engagement and outreach efforts.

In 2024, Hithawathi celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of dedicated service in the field of cyber safety and digital empowerment. Over the years, the initiative has evolved into a trusted resource for individuals in need, while expanding its outreach and strengthening partnerships across sectors. Since inception, Hithawathi’s impact includes 1,490,000+ netizens engaged, 16,500+ individuals supported, 1,250+ virtual & physical events held, 1,800+ website articles published and 160+ video content created.

Hithawathi is supported by numerous national level organizations including the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SLCERT), TechCERT, and Sri Lanka Police. With the collaboration of the Ministry of Education, Hithawathi conducts awareness sessions in schools island wide, further extending its reach to students and educators. Well-meaning individuals such as students’ counsellors and legal advisors attached to different organizations also support Hithawathi, while some members of Internet Society – Sri Lanka Chapter (ISOC-LK) and LK Domain Registry (LKDR) serve voluntarily.

FOUNDATION.LK is a not-for-profit organization established by LK Domain Registry, Sri Lanka. Its mission is to equip Sri Lankans with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to navigate cyberspace securely and confidently, fostering responsible digital citizenship and maximising opportunities in emerging digital ecosystems. Enhancing cyber safety through Hithawathi is one of the key initiatives of FOUNDATION.LK. Established in 1990, the LK Domain Registry has served the country by providing a professional domain registration service, while also facilitating development of Internet infrastructure to improve the Internet in Sri Lanka.