Sri Lanka government enacts social media crackdown law, tables new anti-terrorism law
By Sanjaya Jayasekera. Sri Lanka Speaker, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena last Thursday (01) signed into law the Online Safety Act (No 09 of 2024) (OSA), a piece of legislation long prepared by the ruling class to crack down upon freedom of dissent in the country. The law was approved by the Parliament
ATB driven by class hate, will be used against working class fighting austerity: Submissions to Court against ATB – Part 03
Our Reporter. This is the Part 03 of the article we commenced posting on Tuesday (30), detailing the submissions made to Supreme Court of Sri Lanka against the Anti-Terrorism Bill, challenged by PTA victim poet Ahnaf Jazeem. Read Part 01. Read Part 02. Testing Constitutionality Jayasekera also submitted to court that the standard
ATB could not be part of a quality democracy: Submissions to Court against ATB – Part 02
Our Reporter. This is the Part 02 of the article we commenced posting on Tuesday (30), detailing the submissions made to Supreme Court of Sri Lanka against the Anti-Terrorism Bill, challenged by PTA victim poet Ahnaf Jazeem. Read Part 01. Read Part 03. Democratic Quality ATB "fails to reach even the minimum threshold
Successive Governments thrived on social misery and rooted terrorism, lawyer tells Sri Lanka Supreme Court: Submissions to Court against ATB – Part 01
Our Reporter This article is in three parts. First Part is published here. Part 02 will be published on Wednesday and the Part 03 on Thursday. The case filed by poet Ahnaf Jazeem, who is a victim of Sri Lanka anti-terror law, against the government's proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB), was taken up
Poet and teacher Ahnaf Jazeem, victim of Sri Lanka government racist campaign, acquitted
By Sanjaya Jayasekera The High Court of Puttalam last Tuesday (12) acquitted poet and teacher Ahnaf Jazeem of the charge against him framed under draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), three and half years after his wrongful arrest. The acquittal is based on the failure of the State to prove the
Sri Lanka: UN Special Rapporteurs say proposed social and mass media regulation laws “possibly” limit freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and privacy
By Staff Writer In a communique to the President of Sri Lanka, three Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations Human Rights Council have expressed their dissatisfaction with the proposed social media regulation law, the Online Safety Bill (OSB) and another media related law, Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Bill (BRC). The communication is
Sri Lanka Appeal Court affirms its non-interference with the government’s economic and restructuring policies, particularly during financial crisis
Sathosa Employees' compulsory retirement case By Staff Writer The Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka dismissed and refused to issue notice in a case brought by several employees of the "Sathosa" against government compulsory retirement scheme (CRS). The order (in C. A. Writ No. 548/2023) was made on October 03 by
Supreme Court concludes hearing the Petitioners against the Online Safety Bill
Staff Writer The Speaker of Parliament confirmed on Wednesday (18) that 45 petitions had been filed in the Supreme Court (SC) of Sri Lanka challenging the constitutionality of the proposed draconian piece of law titled, Online Safety Bill (OSB). On the same day at 12.30 in the afternoon, the Supreme Court took
Popular cartoonist Awantha Artigala and journalist activist Shantha Wijesooriya petition against the Online Safety Bill
By Staff Writer Renowned Cartoonist Awantha Artigala and senior journalist Shantha Wijesooriya today (12) filed a case (SD No. 91/2023) in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka challenging the "Online Safety Bill", one of the draconian law proposals of the President Ranil Wickremasinghe's government. Since October 03, when the Bill was placed
Online Safety Bill: Sri Lanka Government to determine “truth” and crack down upon online dissent
By Staff Writer The Ministry of Public Security of Sri Lanka recently gazetted another draconian piece of legislation termed "Online Safety Bill". Successive Sri Lankan governments had attempted a number of times to pass laws to block social media content, claiming to "fight fake news." Released to the public in mid September,