The Supreme Court stated that it will promptly inform the Speaker and the President of its decision on the constitutionality of the proposed Online Safety Bill. This was mentioned while concluding the hearing on fifty petitions filed challenging the relevant Bill.
Matters related to these petitions were considered before the Supreme Court Bench of Justices Priyantha Jayawardene, Shiran Gunaratne and Achala Vengappuli.
Fifty petitions had been filed challenging the Bill and 31 lawyers presented their arguments for two days until around ten at night.
The Bench pointed out that the Supreme Court’s decision should be given within three weeks after the submission of petitions challenging such Bills. Additional Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne who represented the Attorney General, stated that they expect to amend several Clauses of the Bill.
The petitions had demanded that some of the clauses included in this bill are against the Constitution and that the bill should be passed by a two-thirds majority vote and a referendum in order for it to become a law.
A group of persons including journalist Tharindu Uduwaragedera, Sri Lanka Professional Journalist’s Association and Samagi Jana Balavegaya General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Socialist Youth Union President and Jathika Jana Balavegaya Executive Committee
Member Eranga Gunasekara, former Government Information Director General Dr.Ranga Kalansuriya, former UNESCO Director Vijayananda Jayaweera and the media laws forum, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and two former Presidents of the Sri Lanka Bar Association,
President’s Counsels Saliya Peiris and Geoffry Alagaratnam had submitted petitions challenging this Bill.
Nelka Medagedera