SJB, GL go before SC against Online Safety Bill

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

Three petitioners including Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Parliamentarian Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday filed a Special Determination petition in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Online Safety Bill.  Through this petition, the petitioners Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Prof. G.L. Peiris and Chairman of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Youth Wing Rehan Jayawickrema are seeking a declaration that the bill requires the approval by the people at a Referendum in addition to the 2/3 approval of the Parliament.   

The petitioners said by prohibiting and penalizing anonymous social media accounts from the provisions of the bill would severely stifle the freedom of speech and expression and violate the provisions of Article 14(1) of the Constitution.  

They said the proposed bill would penalize the conduct which are already offences under existing statutes and thereby sets up a parallel and more severe legal framework and is therefore violative of Article 12(1) of the Constitution.