The trade union movement, Committee for Social Media Declaration, has called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe to repeal the Online Safety Act immediately, as it suppresses freedom of the press and threatens democratic values and discourse.
In a letter to the President, the movement said the Online Safety Act, passed by Parliament last month, suppresses citizens’ freedom of expression and creates a dire situation that undermines internet freedom and democratic discourse.
“We, the trade unions that stand for the rights of Sri Lankan citizens, strongly condemn the Online Safety Act due to its ambiguous provisions and the threat it poses to democratic values.
“We believe it is a draconian measure aimed at suppressing dissent and exercising authoritarian control over online content. The broadly drafted provisions pave the way for authoritarian rule by allowing vague and misleading content to be misused under vague legal cover to suppress dissent,” it added.
The Committee for Social Media Declaration further noted that this law poses a serious threat to trade union movements, journalists, comedians, cartoonists, digital content creators, and all citizens who express dissenting views.
“We request the President to immediately repeal the Online Safety Act, which has become a law that bridges the suppression of freedom and poses a threat to democratic values and democratic discourse in Sri Lanka,” it added. (Newswire)
