• Says bill is contrary to the fundamental rights protected by the constitution

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda 

Sri Lanka Young Journalist’s Association has filed a Special Determination petition in Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Personal Data Protection bill, which was placed on the order paper of Parliament recently.  

The petitioners Tharindu Iranga Jayawardhana, a Committee Member of 
Sri Lanka Young Journalist’s Association and its Treasurer M.F.M. Fazeer filed this petition naming the Attorney General as respondent. 

The petitioners 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 bill titled “Personal Data Protection” was placed on the Order Paper of Parliament on January 20, 2022.  The proposed Bill has not provided provisions to protect rights of the journalist to investigate the facts which have public importance. 

The petitioners maintained that the proposed Bill has not provided provisions for fair comments by the journalist. 

• The proposed Bill has not provided provisions to protect rights of the journalist to investigate the facts which have public importance