Thirty five petitions filed against Online Safety Bill to be heard today

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

Thirty five (35) Special Determination petitions have been filed so far before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Online Safety Bill. These petitions are to be taken up for determination today (18) before the Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices Priyantha Jayawardena, Shiran Goonaratne and Achala Wengappuli.   

The petitioners are, The President of Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) Kaushalya Nawaratne, journalist Tharindu Uduwaragedera, Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, National People’s Power Parliamentarian Harini Amarasuriya, National Organiser of the Socialist Youth Union Eranga Gunasekara, the Media Law Forum, Front Line Socialist Party activist Duminda Nagamuwa, former Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) Ambika Satkunanathan, Chaminda Dias, M.K. de Silva, W.C.J. Peiris, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne, Ranga Kalansuriya, Vidyananda Jayaweera, B.J.S. Fernando, M.R.M. Najan, M.M. Rahuman, G.H.A. Kumara, Centre for Policy Alternative, MTV Channel Pvt Ltd., Shantha Wijesuriya, Ranmal Amarasinghe, Jayantha Dehiattage, A.D. Liyanaarachchi, D.M.R.S. Senarathne, D.D. Gamage, Jayakody Arachchige Jayakody, P.M. Dhanakgedara, A.A.M.R. Ali, Udaya Kalupathirana, C.M. de Silva, Nagananda Kodituwakku, Geoffrey Alagaratnam PC and Saliya Peiris of Lawyers’ Collective, Star Publications Pvt Ltd, Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, A.R. Weerasinghe and Mike Steve.  

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 Online Safety Bill was published in the Gazette on September 15, 2023 and placed on the Order Paper of Parliament on October 3, 2023.