The newly Gazetted Online Safety Bill is completely draconian, has no place in modern society and the Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya (STB) vehemently condemns the bill, says STB Vice Chairman Rehan Jayawickreme.
Speaking exclusively with The News Desk today (19), Jayawickreme stated that the youth in Sri Lanka must unite against the bill through an overall change in mindset.
“All youth groups in Sri Lanka must unite in defeating this, not in the form of a vote, but through an overall mindset change. This bill has no place in modern day democracy. Economic stability and safeguarding the founding principles of democracy, which includes freedom of speech, should be safeguarded and nurtured. This act is a complete and blatant disregard for international standards at a time when Sri Lanka is facing it’s worst ever debt crisis,” said Jayawickreme.
He further noted that such a bill would only sink Sri Lanka in ‘uncharted waters’.
Furthermore, Jayawickreme stated that the SJB did not agree to join in the Government alliance only because it was evident that even though the country is led by a United National Party (UNP) member, it was evident that the President was elected by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
