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GL urges AG to ensure compliance with SC recommendations before Speaker certifies Online Safety Bill

Published

3 years ago

2024/01/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

… alleges 13 mandatory recommendations discarded

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Alleging that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government hadn’t introduced the amendments proposed by the Supreme Court in respect of the Online Safety Bill, dissident SLPP National List MP Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (29) said that the certification of that Bill by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena should be subjected to sanction by Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC.

Addressing the media at his Kirula road residence, former External Affairs Minister Prof. Peiris accused the government of discarding at the Committee Stage what he called 13 mandatory amendments proposed by the SC.

There hadn’t been a previous instance of a government acting in such a manner in the recent past, Prof. Peiris said, alleging that both the Constitution as well as the Standing Orders of the Parliament were brazenly violated.

Yesterday’s briefing was the first since Prof. Peiris recently switched his allegiance to the SJB.

Prof. Peiris stressed the responsibility on the part of the AG to ensure that the Bill passed by Parliament on 24 January included SC’s recommendations.

The former minister pointed out that the SC declared the Bill could be passed with a simple majority if the recommended amendments were included at the Committee Stage. While discarding the recommended amendments, the government altered the Bill further by granting authority to the executive to remove a person from the five-member Online Safety Commission, Prof. Peiris said.

Prof. Peiris added that the Opposition eagerly awaited the AG’s stand on the Online Safety Bill passed by Parliament. The Opposition lawmaker alleged that the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee hadn’t been given an opportunity to peruse the Bill before the commencement of the two-day debate (January 23 and 24). Prof. Peiris said that the Opposition expected the AG to take remedial measures against the backdrop of SC declaration that the Bill could be passed with a simple majority if clauses 3, 5, 7, 9, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37, 42, 45 and 53 were amended. The SC determined that clause 56 should be passed by a special majority in Parliament.

At the end of the debate on the Second Reading of the Bill, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, MP, called for a division. Accordingly, 108 votes were cast in favour of the Bill and 62 votes were cast against it. Thus, the Second Reading of the Bill was passed by a majority of 46 votes.

Prof. Peiris said that several Opposition MPs asked for a vote on the Third Reading but Speaker Abeywardena ignored their call. The former Law Professor said that of the 57 clauses the SC found fault with over 30 therefore more than 50% of the Bill was contrary to the Constitution.

The government also thwarted another dissident SLPP member Chandima Weerakkody introducing an amendment. The Galle District MP called for a division bringing in an amendment to section 36 of the draft Bill. Accordingly, 51 votes were cast in favour of the amendment and 92 votes were cast against. Thus, the said amendment was defeated by a majority of 41 votes. The Third Reading of the Bill was then passed without a vote.

Prof. Peiris said that the threat posed by the Online Safety law should be examined taking into consideration the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill and the Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Bill meant to suppress the Opposition. Alleging that the government was bent on crushing the Opposition in line with its overall political strategy, Prof. Peiris said that discriminatory laws were being introduced with an eye on the presidential polls expected to be held later this year.

The former Minister declared a future SJB-led government would annul the Online Safety law. Prof. Peiris said that a suitable new law would be introduced after taking into consideration the views of all stakeholders.

Prof. Peiris warned the government of dire consequences over enactment of laws against the wishes of the people as well as the international community.

Prof. Peiris pointed out that the issue at hand is Speaker Abeywardena’s continuing failure to represent the interests of the Parliament.

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Related Topics:AG Sanjay Rajaratnam Featured Prof. G.L. Peiris

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.