Restrictions on Viber to be lifted from midnight

The government has decided to lift the restrictions imposed on the messaging platform Viber, with effect from midnight today (13).

Director General of Government Information Sudarshana Gunawardana, issuing a statement, said that the other social media restrictions will be lifted in due course following discussions with relevant companies and stakeholders.

He said that the government has considered the difficulties faced by Sri Lankan migrant workers when communicating with loved ones back home due to the blocking of social media and messaging platforms as well as the affect it has on the business community, foreign tourists and small scale entrepreneurs it he past couple of days. 

After considering these issues, the government decided to lift the restrictions imposed on the Viber messaging application from midnight today as a preliminary step, he said.  

The government shut down social messaging networks including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Viber last Wednesday (7) to control the spread of hate speech promoting violence against minority Muslims.

Minister Harin Fernando had stated that the restrictions imposed on accessing social media and messaging platforms will most likely be lifted by this Friday (March 16).