Social media ban enters sixth day

The blockade imposed on several social media sites continues for a sixth day today. The Telecommunication Regulartory Commission (TRC) has so far made no official statement on when the ban would be lifted. 

Social media sites such as Facebook and messaging services such as WhatsApp and Viber have been blocked by all service providers following a directive issued by TRC, which was responding to a request from the Ministry of Defence. 

The ban was put in place last week in the wake of communal violence in the Kandy district. The ban came into effect soon after the government declared a State of Emergency in the country.

While several government ministers have made various statements claiming that the ban would be lifted soon, there has so far been no move on the part of the TRC. 

President's Secretary Austin Fernando is the Chairman of TRC. 

President Maithripala Sirisena is currently on an official visit to Japan and it is expected that a final decision on the matter would be taken once he returns to the country on Thursday (15). 

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