CID seals two websites propagating false news

Two websites operating from a shared office in Rajagiriya to propagate false and unethical news on Sri Lanka were sealed on a court order by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) yesterday. The websites continuously targetted celebrities and well- known personalities, propagated false and unethical news and misled international and local communities, Media Centre for National Security Director General Lakshman Hullugalle said in a release yesterday.

As these two websites spread false news bringing disrepute to certain individuals and shamed the country, ignoring a Supreme Court order, the CID raided the office after a court order and began investigations. The CID officials have found that these two websites were directly engaged in propagating false and distorted news. Some computers and equipment were taken over for investigations.

The Supreme Court recently decided websites operating from Sri Lanka should be registered with responsible authorities before operating. The prime objective of this was to identify information which could harm the country and its people and to identify individuals behind this, the release said.

The Media Ministry, according to the court order is registering websites and the registration process is successfully being carried out.