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
On livestream, India Supreme Court seven-judge bench revisits a 1998 verdict
By Staff Writer. India Supreme Court seven judge bench revisited a 1998 verdict of the same court last Wednesday and Thursday. This is the first time after six years a seven judge bench was constituted. It was also the first time in the history of the Indian Supreme Court that a seven-judge
The citizens’ Right to Lie: why (most) lies are protected speech?
By Angel Eduardo. Even with our current climate of fake news, misinformation, disinformation, and election lies, we shouldn’t use government power to try enforcing the truth. Lies are a problem. In fact, one can persuasively argue that lies are the problem. Few behaviors are as corrosive to our social fabric or as foundational to our societal
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,
Australian Labor government’s workplace reform laws will enshrine insecure jobs and low pay
By Martin Scott On Monday, Federal Minister for Workplace Relations Tony Burke introduced the Labor government’s latest tranche of proposed industrial relations reform. Entitled “Closing Loopholes,” the bill is ostensibly aimed at improving the wages and conditions of Australia’s most vulnerable workers, engaged as casuals, labour hire workers, or in the
Contempt of court law: Sri Lanka Government wages war against people’s freedom of expression
By Sanjaya Jayasekera As part of a larger onslaught on democratic rights, Sri Lanka government of President Ranil Wickremasinghe is waging a war against free expression of the masses, specifically targeting print and digital media and online platforms. The latest of this attack is prepared by another piece of proposed legislation
Sri Lanka government proposes to codify an outmoded Contempt of Court law
By Staff Reporter Sri Lanka government has , on June 27, publicized a proposed law titled, the Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution Bill, which outlines the procedure for dealing with contempt of court cases, including issuing a rule to the person charged, allowing them to make a defense, and
Sri Lanka proposed labour law reforms affect worker rights
By Staff Reporter Sri Lanka government has proposed labour law reform that has the potential to significantly impact worker rights in the country. The government has been considering a series of amendments to the existing labour laws with the purported aim of promoting economic growth, attracting foreign investment, and improving
Sri Lankan government tables sham amendments to draconian anti-terrorism law
By Sanjaya Jayasekera Early last month, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris tabled an amendment bill in parliament to the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) with debate to begin on March 8. Two petitions filed in the Supreme Court challenging the unconstitutionality of the amendments are yet