January 25, Colombo (LNW): In a parliamentary session held yesterday (January 24), the Online Safety Bill received majority support from Members of Parliament, despite opposition claims that the proposed amendments were inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s determination.

During the announcement of the bill’s passage, Opposition MP M.A. Sumanthiran raised concerns, emphasising that the government’s amendments did not align with the Supreme Court’s determination.

Despite these objections, the government decided to proceed with the proposed bill, citing approval from the Attorney General for the amendments.

The ensuing parliamentary session witnessed a tense atmosphere as Opposition MPs protested the government’s actions.

Despite the protest, the government proceeded to announce the revised amendments and confirmed the passage of the Online Safety Bill in Parliament.

Earlier in the day, the Opposition accused the government of disregarding proper procedural measures in handling the bill. Additionally, they criticised the government for overlooking concerns raised by the Asia Internet Coalition, a consortium of international tech giants, which deemed the law unworkable.

The Online Safety Bill was initially published in the Sri Lankan Government Gazette in September 2023. Subsequently, the Supreme Court determined that certain provisions of the bill were inconsistent with the Constitution.

In response to the Court’s findings announced on November 7, 2023, the government agreed to revise the bill in October.

Key objectives of the bill include the establishment of the Online Safety Commission, provisions to prohibit online communication of specific statements of fact in Sri Lanka, prevention of the use of online accounts and inauthentic online accounts for prohibited purposes, identification and declaration of online locations used for prohibited purposes, and measures to suppress the financing and other support of false statements of fact in communication.

Following its gazetting, at least 45 petitions were filed at the Supreme Court, with concerns raised that the bill violates the fundamental rights of the public.

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) on January 22 petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the ‘Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill’, stating that it fails to sufficiently address or introduce a fit scheme to enable the regulation of the extortive and predatory practices that microfinance lenders engage in at the grassroots levels.

The Bill was placed on the Order Paper of Parliament on 9 January, 2024. 

TISL has argued in the Petition (SC SD 14/2024) that the Bill does not conform to the principles of reasonableness, proportionality, natural justice, separation of powers and legal certainty as required, and is thus violative of Article 83 of the Constitution as read with Article 3 and 4 of the Constitution.

The extortive and predatory practices faced by victimized customers/borrowers of microfinance schemes, among others include, sextortion/soliciting of sexual bribes, physical, mental, and emotional harassment and intimidation, and the application of extortive interest rates in the granting of loans.

The Petition states that the Bill fails to adequately regulate all entities that engage in microfinance activities in a manner that would address the pervasive issues that have adversely plagued the sector.

The Petition points out that the Bill excludes certain entities that dominate the microfinance industry, such as licensed commercial banks or licensed specialised banks, licensed finance companies, registered leasing establishments, etc.

TISL has further noted in the Petition that the provisions in the Bill grant undue sole discretion to the subject Minister by allowing the Minister to specify persons who may carry out moneylending without a license from the Microfinance and Credit Authority, and grant exemptions to a class or category of transactions.

It further states that Clause 65 of the Bill attempts to create an information-concealing regime that is in complete violation of Article 14A of the Constitution from which the Right to Information Act No. 12 of 2016 flows.

Therefore, the Petition requests the Supreme Court to determine that the Bill, as a whole or in part, is inconsistent with the Constitution. The case will be taken up tomorrow (January 24).

January 25, Colombo (LNW): Two novel pomegranate (delum) varieties have been introduced in Sri Lanka, termed ‘Malee Pink’ and ‘Lanka Red’, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

These varieties have been specifically tailored for cultivation in the arid regions of the country.

Developed through meticulous tissue culture research conducted by the Plant Virus Indexing Centre in Homagama, these new pomegranate varieties offer a viable alternative to the presently imported red pomegranate varieties.

Distinguished by their unique characteristics, these varieties boast a remarkable lifespan of over 30 years for a pomegranate tree, with an impressive yield of 20–25 kilograms of pomegranates per tree annually.

Notably, a single acre can accommodate up to 400 trees, generating a potential annual income of Rs. 8 million per acre.

Minister Amaraweera facilitated the distribution of these pomegranate varieties to farmers for cultivation on January 24th, underscoring the government’s commitment to promoting sustainable and lucrative agricultural practices in the country.

January 25, Colombo (LNW): In the preceding 24-hour period concluding at 12:30 a.m. today (25), the security forces personnel successfully apprehended an additional 838 suspects as part of the ongoing nationwide anti-drug operation, codenamed ‘Yukthiya’ (Justice).

Of these apprehensions, 549 individuals face charges related to narcotics, while the remaining 289 were individuals previously identified as wanted criminal suspects.

Authorities have obtained detention orders for further interrogation against five suspects linked to drug-related activities.

Additionally, ten individuals, identified as drug addicts among the arrestees, have been directed towards rehabilitation programs.

During this 24-hour period, law enforcement seized a quantity of narcotics, including 211 grams of heroin, 78 grams of crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’), 16.6 kilograms of cannabis, 9,974 cannabis plants, and 1,192 narcotic pills, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

To date, the cumulative outcome of the countrywide anti-drug operation, initiated on December 17, 2023, has resulted in the arrest of over 41,000 individuals suspected of involvement in drug-related activities and wanted criminal cases.

The total estimated value of the confiscated narcotics during these operations is approximately Rs. 5 billion.

January 25, Colombo (LNW): State Minister Sanath Nishantha was reportedly killed in a fatal car accident on the Katunayake Expressway early Thursday (25) morning.

The tragedy also claimed the life of a Police Constable from the State Minister’s security detail, and the driver suffered severe injuries, leading to hospitalisation.

Police reported that the incident occurred at 2 AM when the SUV carrying the State Minister collided with the rear end of a freight container truck en route to Colombo. The collision resulted in this unfortunate and tragic accident.

January 24, Colombo (LNW): Officials from the National Livestock Development Board recently apprised Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera of the thriving harvest of carrots, cabbage, and radish in the Bopattalawa and Menikpalama farms situated in Nuwara Eliya. These farms, under the stewardship of the National Livestock Development Board, have seen impressive growth in these vegetable crops.

Following the Minister’s directive to cultivate vegetables on lands owned by institutions within the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Livestock Development Board undertook the cultivation of 25 acres of carrots and cabbage in the Bopattalawa and Menikpalama farms in Nuwara Eliya. The current status reports a successful harvest, showcasing the high yields achieved in these two farms.

The Livestock Development Board expressed satisfaction with the outcomes, emphasizing that the crops are currently in the harvesting phase, demonstrating the effectiveness of the cultivation efforts. The initiative aligns with the Ministry’s broader goal of promoting agricultural self-sufficiency and utilizing available lands efficiently for crop cultivation.

Minister Amaraweera has been a driving force behind encouraging vegetable cultivation on lands owned by various institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture, aiming to enhance food production and reduce dependency on external sources.

January 24, Colombo (LNW): Education Minister Susil Premajayantha announced that the State Printing Corporation (SPC), previously on the restructuring list, has successfully transformed into a profitable government institution within a mere one and a half years. The Minister revealed that through effective management strategies, the SPC, which was once incurring losses, rapidly ascended to profitability, registering a profit of two million rupees.

Minister Premajayantha shared these achievements during his attendance at a recent function held at the SPC on Monday. He highlighted the remarkable shift in the corporation’s financial standing, emphasizing that it now generates its own working capital while also disbursing bonuses and allowances to its employees.

Expressing satisfaction at the swift and positive transformation of the SPC, the Minister attributed the success to changes in top management and the proper assignment of responsibilities. He commended the corporation for overcoming its status as a loss-making entity, previously included in the restructuring list, and achieving profitability in a short span.

Minister Premajayantha credited the consolidation of all institutions related to the Education Ministry under a single umbrella as a significant factor contributing to the SPC’s success. This integration, according to the Minister, played a pivotal role in addressing longstanding issues related to printing school textbooks and ensuring timely delivery to students.

Acknowledging the positive momentum, the Minister encouraged the SPC to capitalize on this success by venturing into new competitive investments. He emphasized the importance of sustained development to further enhance the corporation’s capabilities.

As part of the recognition for the institution’s success, the Minister highlighted the evaluation of meritorious staff who played a crucial role in the rapid development of the SPC.