sri-lanka-to-amend-its-online-safety-act-after-facing-backlash

The Sri Lankan Cabinet has decided to amend the Online Safety Act, the government said on Tuesday, after it was attacked for suppressing dissent and harming the potential growth of the nation's digital economy. 

 

However, when it was decided yesterday to go for an amendment, which clauses of the Act would be amended was not mentioned, as per the Cabinet note released on Tuesday after Monday’s meeting.  

 

The government on Tuesday said the amendment would now be enacted with representations having been received from the industry and added, "Some of the industry-proposed amendments had been excluded in the process when the Supreme Court-recommended amendments were incorporated."

 

"The move came as the main opposition and the local Human Rights Commission had expressed concern that the Act was not in compliance with the highest court-prescribed changes," it added. 

 

The bill, approved in January, aimed to create the Online Safety Commission with the authority to impose penalties for violations, according to which the individuals making false statements online could face up to 5 years in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 Sri Lankan rupees upon conviction. 

 

Last week, the Human Rights Commission expressed its deep concern to the Speaker of Parliament on the non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling on the adaptation of the controversial Online Safety Act.

 

The bill was adopted in Parliament on January 24 by a simple majority amidst Opposition claims that the Supreme Court’s recommendations had not been included in full and it would stifle freedom of speech.

 

The SLHRC said that the bill was adopted with a simple majority when it ought to have been done with a special majority -two-thirds in the 225-member assembly.

 

The government had, however, defended the bill, saying the Attorney General’s Department officials had seen to the inclusion of all amendments suggested by the Supreme Court.

 

The legislation faced widespread criticism, being labeled as draconian and potentially detrimental to Sri Lanka's digital economy. Critiques pointed out its broad and vague speech-related offenses, carrying lengthy prison terms. Responding to the backlash, the government acknowledged the law's flaws in Parliament, expressing openness to amendments.