Online Safety Bill presented to Parliament

The Online Safety Bill was presented to Parliament today (3) by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles.

The Bill seeks to "establish the Online Safety Commission; to make provisions to prohibit online communication of certain statements of fact in Sri Lanka; to prevent the use of online accounts and inauthentic online accounts for prohibited purposes; to make provisions to identify and declare online locations used for prohibited purposes in Sri Lanka; to suppress the financing and other support of communication of false statements of fact and for matters
connected therewith or incidental thereto."

Cheif Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) was completely against the Bill. He questioned why the Ministry of Public Security was presenting the Bill instead of the Media Ministry. He noted that Sri Lanka could become further isolated over the controversial Bill. 

People's Freedom Congress MP Prof. G.L. Pieris meanwhile, raised issue over the Bill being listed in Parliament's Order Book on September 27. The Constitution mandates that a 14-day period must be given to file objections before court over a draft Bill. However, with September 28 and 29 also being public holidays, the period that one can go to court to challenge the Bill has been reduced to 7 days, Prof. Pieris alleged. 

Both Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe though, stressed that the 14-day period begins from the date that the Bill is presented to the House. 

The Bill has come in for widespread criticism both nationally and internationally, with opposition parties, civil society organisations and media rights groups attacking it as an attempt to suppress freedom of expression. Among organisations that have voiced deep concern over the proposed bill are the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), International Commission of Jurists, Free Media Movement, the Sri Lanka Working Journalists' Association and the Sri Lanka Press Institute. 

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) meanwhile, has written to Public Security Minister Tiran Alles urging him to reconsider the timing of the proposed Bill. "The strengthening of institutional capacity of law enforcement authorities to interpret and apply the existing criminal law in good faith should precede any proposals to introduce new legislation with criminal offences pertaining to online activity," the Commission stressed. 

"Proceeding with such legislation without such institutional reform will irreversibly jeopardise the freedom of speech and expression and related fundamental rights of the people of Sri Lanka," it further warned.