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PM: Laws to curb social media hate speech soon

15 March 2018 12:47 am - 17     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka would have new laws enacted to control social media and hate speech, in a few weeks’ time, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

The Prime Minister said this during the opening of the new swimming pool at the Isipathana College, Colombo, last morning.

He said the Attorney General Department was currently studying such laws enacted by other countries.

“A number of countries in the world have introduced laws to control social media and hate speech. The UK has laws in place to control hate speech. So has Kenya. There are laws to control social media in Germany,” he said.

“A draft pertaining to such laws has already been presented to the Senate in the Philippines. I have also advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to look at how the other countries in our region are working on controlling social media so that we too could follow through, together with those countries,” the Prime Minister said.

At the same time, the Prime Minister assured that there was no move to ban or block social media anymore.

“I am the one who introduced internet to Sri Lanka in 1993 by signing an agreement with the then US Vice President Al Gore and I am fully aware of the importance of the internet and social media.

“Some of the richest companies such as Uber had made money by operating via social media while even companies such as Google had also been successfully operating online.

“Therefore we are fully aware of the value of it. Our objective, therefore, is to encourage positive use of social media and minimize the wrong usage,” he added.

Mr Wickremesinghe said social media was blocked following the advice of defence authorities who informed the cabinet that hate speech and false information aired through social media had made things difficult.

“The Defence authorities advised the cabinet to take some steps to control social media as it made the situation in Kandy worse. There would have been a worse scenario if the Government did not take steps to block social media during the riots.

“Some are questioning us on this move today but they have forgotten that there were disturbances in Kandy last week,” he said.

Minister of Higher Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said the Government would introduce a new school curriculum soon.

The new curriculum he said is prepared in accordance with the needs of the changing job market.

“Students will not have to drop out of school if they fail the GCE Ordinary Level examination from next year,” the Minister said. (Yohan Perera)


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  Comments - 17

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  • mugunthan Thursday, 15 March 2018 05:47 AM

    WELL DONE PRIME MINISTER, MAKE IT A CRIMINAL OFFENCE, IF ANYONE CONVICTED OF SUCH AN OFFENCE PUT MINIMUM 20 YEARS IMPRISONMENT, NO EXCUSE, DO NOT DELAY THIS.

    Rambo Thursday, 15 March 2018 08:11 AM

    Start with the person started with " Kawuda Hora?" in Parliament!

    ps Thursday, 15 March 2018 05:52 AM

    Our world needs at this critical time in history to Not allow foreign powers to interfere with the internal affairs of its sovereign nations. Sri Lanka, and other developing countries have to be on guard towards Mainstream outlets undermining their cultures. Those in control of global money and power use Giants like google, Facebook and News sources like CNN, FOX, BBC,.. to influence, divide, destabilize and rule the masses, and should be censored. These powerful media, in a hollywood style fashion, obscure and invert Truth about Violence, Drugs, the glamour of wealth and Pornography to influence People to believe that "GOOD is BAD and BAD is GOOD".We can only hope that political leaders be on guard to such onslaught on their societies' and sovereignty ato have the courage and resolve to stem the tide of their infiltration. We owe it to our future generations to oppose these forces of evil hell-bent on destroying human values and freedom as we have known.

    fareed Thursday, 15 March 2018 12:39 PM

    When you attack the minority or break the international law, you ceased to be an independent nation

    Truthseeker Thursday, 15 March 2018 06:30 AM

    Hate speech? And all you fools are going along with this abomination? Who defines what is hateful, legally speaking? The government. Do you really want these people to have the power to prosecute you on speech, according to their definition of hate? If you are not inciting violence, but have unpopular opinions you should be jailed? This will just become a tool to silence opposition, just like the white vans and intimidation of the previous regime. And last point, just because an opinion is unpopular does not mean it should be shut down. All this will do is radicalize those with those unpopular opinions, and without the peaceful outlet of expressing their views, how do you think they will express them now?

    rew Thursday, 15 March 2018 12:35 PM

    Between MS and RW, they have destroyed the hope and aspirations of millions of Sri Lankans. Liars and Deal makers will not go beyond their current terms in Office, and thank God for that. .

    AA Rasika Perera Thursday, 15 March 2018 06:48 AM

    The quickest way to lose one’s freedoms is through controlling the press and media !

    Refaideen Thursday, 15 March 2018 07:11 AM

    Advice the Law implementing agencies to implement the Law currently prevailing first

    Arnold Thursday, 15 March 2018 08:02 AM

    "Soon" could be one year or 5 years. IF you want to keep SL afloat do it TODAY!!

    Harini Thursday, 15 March 2018 08:36 AM

    While this is welcome legislation if done with transparent intent, it is incredible how those in cahout with the government has no prosecution brought against them within the existing laws of the land for robbing and misusing entrusted savings of the public (EPF) and others within the government guilty of amassing millions of taxpayer money. Social media ban seems to have trumped all other critical issues that sidestep the government's direct responsibility to offer explanations through investigation if not to bring criminals to book. Several impressionable, miscreant youth can be nabbed and made an example of, but justice and the governing mechanisms seem to be dragging their feet on larger miscreants. The latter feeds into the unrest created by the former Mr.Prime Minister.

    Anja Thursday, 15 March 2018 08:40 AM

    Take to clean and vacate all government property time to go homw via DM Android App

    Verification Thursday, 15 March 2018 08:57 AM

    Will it safe guard former CENTRAL BANK governor (your darling friend) who robbed the bank ??

    Hans perlee Thursday, 15 March 2018 11:10 AM

    is this the beginning of total state control? Let's follow China. NO more freedom of speech. NO more critical remarks about the Government? If this will happen Sri Lanka should remove the word DEMOCRATIC from the name.

    fareed Thursday, 15 March 2018 12:34 PM

    Government should have done it long ago but somehow failed and we are in this situation today. By the way before that clearly define what is free speech and what is hate speech.

    G.m. Jayawardena Thursday, 15 March 2018 01:33 PM

    Before turning to social media please curb hate speeches in the parliament... its disgusting to watch ....

    Bo Adolfsson Thursday, 15 March 2018 02:18 PM

    What I like is free speech.What I dislike is hate speech.How can a president stop free speech. That is dictatorship?

    Senewi Thursday, 15 March 2018 06:32 PM

    These people are trying to be in the power forever !


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