The Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) has strongly condemned remarks made by Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Sunil Watagala, who proposed using emergency regulations to punish individuals posting defamatory content against the President on social media.
The SLWJA said the statement threatens freedom of speech and media rights, particularly during a national crisis. The Deputy Minister made the remarks on 02 December during a discussion at the Malabe Divisional Secretariat, attended by government officials and Deputy Media Minister Kaushalya Ariyarathna.
During the discussion, Watagala alleged that a coordinated effort is underway to distort information regarding the disaster situation through physical means, social media, and AI technology. He further claimed that individuals overseas are contributing to this activity. According to the SLWJA, Watagala went as far as instructing police officers that suspects should be treated not merely as accused persons, but as offenders under emergency regulations.
The SLWJA said that individuals who once advocated for freedom of expression are now attempting to suppress it, calling this a clear reflection of the current government’s shift away from democratic principles. The union added that this is not the first instance in which the government has threatened media freedoms, noting several similar incidents in the past year.
The association emphasized that attempts to criminalize speech through emergency powers, particularly during a disaster, represent a serious violation of democratic rights. It expressed strong opposition to the comments made and urged the government to respect constitutional freedoms. (Newswire)
