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Saturday, October 31, 2009

Houses & Lands in Wattala , Nugegoda , Dehiwala

Youth arrested over web comments on the President

By M. W Somarathna

A youth who had made offensive and defamatory comments regarding the President and the Secretary of Defense through a website he was operating, was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department and remanded till the 6th of November by the Matale Magistrate. The suspect is a resident of Alauwa.

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Isn't there a law in the country relating to acts of defamation caused to individuals arising from words spoken or written by others? (Communications in blogs or websites in the internet should be considered written words for all intents and purposes). There are such laws in all civilized countries. People engaging in such acts are committing punishable offences in the eyes of the law of the country. What has this got do with freedom of expression or press freedom or democracy or such things? If actually this misguided youth has done something to defame the Head of State, then he ought to be prosecuted in a court of law and made to pay for his unlawful behaviour.(Commentators should kindly note that according to the news item, the offensive and defamatory comments have been made by the youth through a website he himself operated.)

Posted By: Ari

Freedom of speech; yes; freedom of the wild donkey; no. It is between these two; the tug of war.

Posted By: Nihal Amarasekera

This guy might have operated that website just to make offensive and defamatory comments regarding the President and the Secretary of Defense for unfair political objectives. Democracy has its own definitions of its limitations of freedom.We have to respect them.Otherwise we should answer in front of judiciary. This is very basic.If not democracy will be a mockery.

Posted By: Lankan Blood

We are only allowed to make comments about people in HEAVEN, not on earth!

Posted By: 1961

What is that comment? We like to know it.

Posted By: John

A person is entitled to his Opinion and Comment is FREE. Under which Law can such person be charged? In these blogs there are many who comments under others names, the Cowards.

Posted By: Gamini Dullewe

What's happening to this country? I thought Sri Lanks was a democracy. we need freedom of expression. Now will they arrest me for making this comment?

Posted By: Rajitha

This is so paranoid. It's ridiculous to go after people on the internet. They are wasting their time...

Posted By: David

The final hammer blow to our democracy. Preventing freedom of expression on the anonymous web is undemocratic.

Posted By: Y

No comments But i can laugh at this..heheh..

Posted By: Mushi

So, does this mean we cant even comment freely on the Blogs, including this one on the Daily Mirror. George Orwell, if he was living today, would have been very proud that his fictions are really been implemented in this paradise island.

Posted By: Calistus Jayatilleke

Pissu thdawela wage... Arrest and put all internet users in Jail. At last government understood attacking to media guys is not enuff to control the situation.. Cheers!!!

Posted By: TOM

Ultimate in paranoia! Is the time to drawing neigh....?

Posted By: Observer

What No freedom of Speech. Where is Sri Lanka heading into

Posted By: Sam

Sri Lankans living abroad often make nasty, nasty such comments. What can we do about them? Are we going to seek the assistance of the INTERPOL?

Posted By: Senator

I don't understand this because all comments are not published; after a dialog message, that it is submitted for approval and I suppose the comments are edited by the web editor or a sub-editor, the comment appears or disappears, most of my comments are removed because it is not in the interest of the site not because it is against the govt. or anyone else personally or sometimes it might be out of context. What is this comment purported to be made against the president? How that was not noticed by the editors?

Posted By: xlntgson

It is said that God makes them Mad before they Destroy them. Just imagine, there are some who comment using other's names. So they will arrest those, whose names appear. What a Joke! Only those living overseas can Comment Freely. Is It? This is the last straw for this Nation to be Unafraid and Unbowed. They will have to Kill or incarcerate over a few million, not like just get away killing an Editor. As the Sunday Leader heading stated, They are coming for all of us. Great Show!

Posted By: Gamini Dullewe

I find it hard to digest this news. What exactly did this youth say against the President and Gota to be arrested? Was it that offensive and if so I doubt that the editors would have published it? Then what about us on this blog? What is going to happen to our country? The government is seriously suffering from acute paranoia...it seems to be getting worse each passing day. We only have the trappings of a democracy. Only on paper.

Posted By: Hasitha Thumbovilla

I always wonder what is the meaning of press freedom. But I am sure this freedom must not be used to slander or insult and damage the character of any citizen. If it is misused credibility and purpose of journalism will be lost.

Posted By: Vijaya

Is He/She the ONLY PERSON who hade made this "offensive comments" on so called PRESIDENT ?? How about those PURE SINHALESE comments exchanged in the PARLIMENT?? POLITICAL STAGES??. So is it only "web" used by ordinary person is questioned??? In my point of view i don't like to call this a JOKE b'cos it will be a insult to so many nice jokes

Posted By: KD

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