Online Safety Bill can be passed with simple majority subject to amendments - SC

News

The Supreme Court has determined that the Online Safety Bill can be passed with a simple majority in Parliament subject to amendments to several clauses at the Committee Stage, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse informed Parliament a short while ago.

A three-judge bench comprising Justices Priyantha Jayawardena Shiran Gooneratne and Achala Wengappuli determined in its ruling that Clauses 3,5,7,9, 11,12,73,74,75,16,17,18,79,20,27,22,23,25,26,27,28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37, 42, 45, 53 and 56 should be passed by a special majority in Parliament as required by Article 84(2) of the Constitution.

However, if the above clauses are amended during the Committee Stage, the Bill can be passed by a simple Parliamentary majority, the Supreme Court has further noted.

The Justices have stressed that they have examined the provisions of the Bill and are of the opinion that subject to the above, none of the provisions in the Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution. Therefore, the Bill can be passed by a simple majority in Parliament, subject to the amendments stated by Court.

A total of 45 petitions were filed before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Online Safety Bill.

Comments

Still No Comments Posted.

Leave Comments

Most Reviews

May 31, 2025

- 506 - 0

Flt Lt Kasun Cumaratunga , more than a pilot, a guardian remembered on his 37th death anniversary

Kasun, was born in 28th Sept 1964, the grandson of the legendary author and linguist Munidasa Cumaratunga and son of SSP Bindu Kumaratunga and Winifred

June 2, 2025

- 473 - 0

National Tax week launched

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) backed by the Excise and Customs Department today launched a fresh drive to collect taxes including some Rs.780 billion listed as ‘collectable defaults’.

June 2, 2025

- 373 - 0

SriLankan Airlines’ new A330 Fleet to perform low fly past over Colombo on Wed.

June 3, 2025

- 218 - 0

Krishanthi Kumaraswami convicts FR dismissed by SC

The Supreme Court today unanimously dismissed a Fundamental Rights petition filed by five convicts in the 1996 Krishanthi Kumaraswamy abduction, rape, and murder case.

June 6, 2025

- 216 - 0

SriLankan flight grounded in Indonesia

A SriLankan airlines flight has been grounded in an airport in Indonesia due to a technical defect leaving 93 passengers stranded, an official said.

June 5, 2025

- 176 - 0

Former Sri Lanka spinner Sachithra Senanayake indicted

Former international spinner Sachithra Senanayake is set to become the first Sri Lankan cricketer indicted under the country’s Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act (Act No. 24 of 2019).