First FR filed against Online Safety Bill

•  Petitioner, a media activist claims Bill will infringe on rights including freedom of speech 
•  Argues certain provision of new Bill violates SL’s constitution 
•  Requests court to issue order requiring a two-thirds majority in Parliament and referendum for enactment 

The first fundamental rights petition against the proposed Online Safety Bill was filed before the Supreme Court yesterday. 

Media activist Tharindu Uduwaragedara, the petitioner, has requested the court to issue a ruling declaring that certain provisions of the Bill violate the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, the petitioner argued that provisions within the Online Safety Bill infringed upon specific fundamental human rights, notably the right to freedom of speech and expression.

Therefore, the petitioner is seeking a court order that, for the Bill to be enacted, it must secure approval with a two-thirds majority in Parliament and be subjected to a referendum. The Attorney General has been named as the respondent in the petition. 

The controversial Online Safety Bill, which has been the subject of much debate since being gazetted last month, was presented in Parliament yesterday morning by Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles. This move comes despite the Bill facing severe criticism from various parties for certain contentious elements.

The Online Safety Bill, released via Government Gazette on 18 September seeks to achieve several objectives. These include the prohibition of specific statements from being communicated online within the country, the prevention of the use of online accounts – whether authentic or inauthentic – for prohibited purposes, provisions for the identification and declaration of online locations used for prohibited activities, and measures to curb the financing and support of false statements in online communication, among others. 

It is anticipated that various other entities, including political organisations, civil society groups, and media trade unions, will also submit petitions against the Bill in the coming days.