Online Safety Bill Gets Green Light: Speaker Endorses Certificate

COLOMBO (News 1st); Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has endorsed the certificate on the Online Safety Bill.

Parliament General Secretary Kushani Rohanadheera confirmed that the speaker endorsed the certificate on the Online Safety Bill.

The Online Safety Bill was passed with amendments in parliament on the 23rd of January, and following its passage opposition MPs expressed concern that the bill was passed disregarding the amendments submitted by the Supreme Court.

Thereafter, the opposition, and activists requested the speaker to refrain from endorsing the certificate on the Online Safety Bill until it is confirmed that the amendments submitted by the court are included.

The Online Safety Bill aims to regulate online content in Sri Lanka, but critics warn it could lead to censorship and suppression of free speech.