9 March 2022 06:39 pm
Media does not have to worry about the Data Protection Bill as long as they are prepared to take responsibility for the information they publish, Minister Namal Rajapaksa told Parliament today.
Minister Rajapaksa who kicked off the debate on Data Protection Bill in Parliament said journalists should take the responsibility for the information they publish so that issues pertaining to the information will not arise.
“Journalists should not come out and say he or she published information saying certain person provided the information. They should be more responsible,” he said.
“ The Data Protection Bill will not have any effect on the Right to Information Bill.If anyone was against the Bill they should have filed a court case against it. Stating that they oppose the Bill in Parliament without filing legal action within the stipulated time frame cannot be accepted,” the Minister added in response to comments made by Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella who said his party would oppose the Bill.
“ We oppose the Bill as the government has failed to discuss the legislation with the relevant stakeholders. Some media associations have also opposed the legislation,” Kiriella said.
SJB MP Mayantha Dissanayake said the request made by his party at the consultative committee to postpone the debate has been turned down by the government.
Mr. Rajapaksa who responded said Mr. Dissanayake has accepted that his party forgot to file legal action during the consultative committee meeting.(Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)