Vasu’s proposal to ban hate speech before Cabinet today

Minister of National Languages and Social Integ-ration Vasudeva Nanayakkara will present a Cabinet paper seeking a ban on hate speech in the country today, it is learnt.

The final draft of the paper that was being finalised last evening will be submitted when the Cabinet of ministers meets today.

Nanayakkara’s proposal will have the backing of Muslim ministers, according to the Colombo Gazette.  Ministers A.H.M. Fowzie, Rishard Bathiudeen and the SLMC have all expressed their decision to support Nanayakkara’s proposal in the interest of fostering peace between the communities.

Minister Nanayakkara has come in for strong criticism by hardline groups whose public invectives have spurred a dangerous anti-Muslim campaign in the country.

Religious leaders, Muslim politicians and civil society activists have expressed concern that the rising tension between the Sinhalese and Muslim communities spurred by public sentiments expressed by hardline Sinhala groups against Muslims living in Sri Lanka.