First application under Online Safety Act filed before Court

• Petitioner alleges he was a “targeted individual” and that one or more of the several Respondents named in the Petition were intentionally harassing the Petitioner by communicating false statements

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The first application under the newly enacted Online Safety Act was made to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court and the Court issued a conditional order preventing respondent parties from communicating alleged false information against former Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) Janaka Ratnayake.   

 Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis issued a conditional order in favour of the Petitioner Janaka Ratnayake in terms of Section 24 (1) and Section 24 (2) of the Online Safety Act No. 09 of 2024 and directed that the order be communicated to the Respondents Gayathri Bimba, Prof. Janaka Rajapaksa, Oshala Herath, Yasalal Perera (Talk with Lal), Kalpa Gunarathne (Meemasso TV) and Jamuni Kamantha Thushara by electronic means as provided for in Section 24 (4) of the Act.   
In his application Janaka Ratnayake, alleged that respondents had circulated or is attempting to circulate private information. The Petitioner further alleged that he was a “targeted individual” and that one or more of the several Respondents named in the Petition were intentionally harassing the Petitioner by communicating false statements.   
An application was made on behalf of the Petitioner to prevent the circulation of the said information under Section 24 of the Online Safety Act No. 09 of 2024.   
WhatsApp LLC and Google LLC (doing business as YouTube) identified in the Petition as “Internet intermediaries”, were also named as the 7th and 8th Respondents of the application.   
The case is due to be called on April 18 on which day one or more of the several Respondents named in the Petition are required to show cause under Section 24 (6) of the Act.