News
Motion to ban social media use for children under 15 submitted to Parliament
Kurunegala District SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has submitted a motion to Parliament seeking to restrict social media use for children under the age of 15, citing growing concerns over mental health issues, cyber risks and declining educational performance among minors.
The motion, incorporated into the Addendum to the Parliament Order Book, calls for legislation to regulate children’s access to social media platforms in view of, what it describes as, the adverse effects of excessive social media use.
The motion states that unrestricted access to social media has led to increasing levels of mental stress among children, a deterioration in academic performance, incidents of cyberbullying and exposure to indecent and unsafe online content.
Jayasekera has pointed out that several developed countries, including Australia, France and Denmark, have already introduced laws and regulatory frameworks to limit social media access for children.
Among the proposals, contained in the motion, are fixing the minimum age for opening social media accounts at 15 years, making age verification mechanisms compulsory for social media companies, and imposing fines and legal sanctions on entities violating the proposed law.
The motion also calls for measures to deal with instances where children access social media platforms through accounts operated by adults.
The proposal is due to be taken up for debate in Parliament at a later date.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Latest News
M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to appoint M. M. D. J. Senarathne, who is the senior most officer in Grade I of Sri Lanka Scientific Service se
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Air Chief Marshal Kolitha A. Gunathilake (Retd.) as the new Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.
The letter of appointment was presented to Air Chief Marshal Kolitha A. Gunathilake (Retd.) by Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (05) afternoon.
Air Chief Marshal Kolitha A. Gunathilake(Retd.) has served as Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force and as Chief of Defence Staff.
(PMD)
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India captain
Turkiye, Pakistan agree Saudi Arabia military deployment under Mecca pact
Rumesh Tharanga among nominees announced for World Athlete of the Year 2026
New Chancellor appointed to General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Latest News7 days agoGold winner Tharanga gets brand-new Honda Vezel from SLAAJ
-
News6 days agoUS-assisted ‘Ice’ detection: NPC to examine IGP’s move to transfer drug-busting team
-
Features7 days agoWhy Sri Lanka needs an Inclusive Civic Nationalism – urgently
-
Editorial5 days agoColombo Port drug bust: The plot thickens
-
News7 days agoCivil society activist accuses govt. of favouring Ven. Gnanasara
-
Midweek Review7 days agoDappula’s Easter Sunday ‘grand conspiracy’ claim demolished
-
Editorial7 days agoWhen crime bosses rise above law and shrines
-
Editorial6 days ago
Drug busting, transfers and trust deficit