Video: Suicides should not be blamed on Facebook: SYU

25 February 2014 09:49 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 8 Bookmark

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The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) affiliated Socialist Youth Union (SYU) said Facebook should not be banned or restricted as it could not be blamed for the recent suicides.

SYU national organiser and former JVP parliamentarian Bimal Ratnayake told a news conference that several government officials including ministers had in various statements hinted of plans to ban Facebook, the very popular social media network.

He was referring to a statement made by Childcare and Women’s Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadda that strict laws would be introduced to deal with those who misuse Facebook and also to a statement made by Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on placing restrictions on the use of Facebook.

“Boys and girls are known to have committed suicide as a result of illicit love affairs long before Facebook came into existence,” Mr. Ratnayake said and added that suicide had become a major social problem in Sri Lanka with the country having the second largest suicide rate when it came to young women.

He said 80,000 youth are reported to have attempted suicide in Sri Lanka annually while 400,000 think of it as an option according to the World Organization for Preventing Suicides.

Mr. Ratnayake said there should be organisations with trained people to deal with social issues while Facebook itself could be used to overcome these issues.

“Facebook will not be a problem if it is used in a proper manner for good purposes,” he added.(YP & DS)

Comments - 8

Shamil Tuesday, 25 February 2014 04:04 PM

if this go on like this they wont have to ban facebook. They have to ban suiside of youth. And wont be able to find youngsters via DM Android App

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Kamma Tuesday, 25 February 2014 10:39 AM

Face book is not illicit or illegal. Close wine stores and casinos firstly that ruins the lives of many. I am sorry but ignorance is everywhere in the parliament just like the story of beheading of the goat to save the clay pot.

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Thushara Tuesday, 25 February 2014 10:54 AM

Very True and salute to Bimal too

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Nihal Amarasekera Tuesday, 25 February 2014 11:06 AM

Forget the pros & cons of the issue, Desperado JVP eying youth vote.

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ANTON Tuesday, 25 February 2014 11:10 AM

IF KING KAKILLE WAS ALIVE HE WOULD HAVE BAN THE USE OF COMPUTERS INSTEAD OF FACE BOOK.

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ANTON Tuesday, 25 February 2014 11:17 AM

YEAH , THEY ARE EXPERTS OF " BORA DIYE MAALU BAAMA"

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Joe Tuesday, 25 February 2014 06:53 PM

Should be restricted to school Chidren to enable them to concentrate on studies and sports via DM Android App

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Campos Tuesday, 25 February 2014 02:54 PM

Facebook is not the cause of these suicides. It is a society repressive of the normal SEXUAL inclinations of young people. Facebook and mobile phones have certainly facilitated the contact of one young person with another, but what they are doing is normal contact because the society at large does not allow them to socialize with each other openly. What do you expect when little boys and little girls become big boys and big girls at the age of twelve and thirteen? And how many ordinary families teach their children about sexuality? (Precious few, I think.) And then the society expects them to wait to the age of 28 to marry? And then throw in caste (a taboo word in Sri Lanka) along with jobs and financial prospects, and what comes of it all? All too often nooses over mango tree limbs!

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