Cardinal Ranjith files petition against Online Safety Bill

Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the Online Safety Bill, Ada Derana reporter said.

The petition has reportedly been filed requesting the court to declare that the proposed bill is in violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

The Attorney General has been named as a respondent in the petition.

The petitioning party states that certain clauses included in the proposed bill curtail fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom of speech and especially the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of Sri Lanka. 

The petition, which points out that a commission is slated to be appointed for the regulation of social media through this bill, alleges the bill allows the appointment of members to that commission at the sole discretion of the president.

Cardinal Ranjith also voiced concerns in his petition that thereby, the president will be granted authority to appoint the individuals as members of the relevant commission and to remove the members on his discretion.

Moreover, it is further emphasized through this petition that if the relevant bill is implemented, it will enable the government to impose restrictions on people’s right to information.

Accordingly, the petitioner seeks a court order declaring that a two-thirds majority in Parliament and a referendum is required for the bill to be passed.

Three other petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court thus far, challenging the Online Safety Bill which was recently tabled in parliament by the government.

The relevant petitions have been filed by the Socialist Youth Union (SYU), social activist Tharindu Uduwaragedara and the General Secretary of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, SJB’s Rehan Jayawickrama and Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) member Prof. G.L. Peiris.

The much-debated Online Safety Bill was tabled in parliament on October 03, by Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, despite backlash by various sections over certain aspects of the bill.

The Bill, published in the government gazette on 18 September, aims to prohibit online communication of certain statements within the country, prevent the use of online accounts – both authentic and inauthentic – for the use of prohibited purposes, to make provisions to identify and declare online locations used for prohibited purposes, to suppress the financing and other support of communication of false statements and for other matters connected therewith.