Magistrate Court of Colombo issues interim order under Section 24(2) of the Online Safety Act against Rizly Illiyas, who launched a targeted online attack labelled “MAFIA GANGSTER ROBBERS” just days before the Sri Lanka Olympic Committee presidential election scheduled for April 25, 2026

By Legal Correspondent | Colombo | April 2026

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — In a striking legal intervention that underscores the growing reach of Sri Lanka’s Online Safety Act, the Magistrate Court of Colombo has issued an interim court order restraining Mr. Rizly Illiyas from making further defamatory and slanderous statements online against Mr. Asanga Chandra Senevirathne — a prominent businessman, Chairman of Sri Lanka Rugby Federation, and declared candidate for the presidency of the Sri Lanka Olympic Committee.

The order, granted under Section 24(2) of the Online Safety Act of Sri Lanka, No. 9 of 2024, in proceedings before the Magistrate Court of Colombo (Case No. MC 76451), came in response to an urgent petition filed by Mr. Senevirathne after the 1st Respondent, Mr. Rizly Illiyas, allegedly launched a calculated and malicious social media campaign designed to destroy his reputation and derail his candidacy just days before the Sri Lanka Olympic Committee elections scheduled for April 25, 2026.

“The order sends an unambiguous signal: the courts will not permit the online space to be weaponised for targeted character assassination.”

The Man Behind the Petition: Who is Asanga Senevirathne?

Mr. Asanga Chandra Senevirathne, is one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent figures in the business and sporting world. A seasoned entrepreneur, he serves as Chairman of several companies and has led the Sri Lanka Rugby Federation as its President — a position that has placed him at the forefront of national sporting governance.

His public profile reached a new milestone when he announced his candidacy for the position of Chairman of the Sri Lanka Olympic Committee, with the election scheduled for April 25, 2026. It is this candidacy that became the direct catalyst for the alleged online smear campaign against him.

The Attacker’s Own Troubled Record

The irony of the campaign against Mr. Senevirathne is not lost in the legal record. The affidavit reveals that the 1st Respondent, Mr. Rizly Illiyas, was himself found guilty of violating sports conduct codes during his time with Sri Lanka Rugby. In 2023, following proceedings before an Asian Rugby Appeals Tribunal, Mr. Illiyas was found guilty and dismissed from service. Documentary evidence of his dismissal has been placed before the court as an exhibit by the Petitioner.

The “MAFIA GANGSTER ROBBERS” Post: A Targeted Attack

According to the sworn affidavit, around April 22, 2026, Mr. Senevirathne learned through a personal contact that Mr. Illiyas had published a damaging social media post from an Instagram account operating under the name “srilankatuskers.” The post, shared on or around April 19, 2026, was provocatively titled “MAFIA GANGSTER ROBBERS” and contained a series of allegations against Mr. Senevirathne.

Mr. Senevirathne’s has categorically rerejed these allegations as false and defamatory, and states that the ordinary and natural meaning of the statements was plainly intended to destroy his reputation and mislead potential voters ahead of the Olympic Committee election.

WhatsApp Campaign: Another Dimension of the Attack

The defamatory campaign was not confined to Instagram. The Petition has further disclosed that Mr. Illiyas also circulated false and unacceptable statements against Mr. Senevirathne within several WhatsApp groups.

In a further act of targeted harassment, the 1st Respondent is alleged to have shared a news article from the website kandyprimenews.lk, using Mr. Senevirathne’s photograph as the thumbnail image, and circulated this article widely through WhatsApp groups in a manner described as deeply offensive and malicious. Screenshots of these communications have been produced before the court as evidence.

Sabotage of the Olympic Committee Election

Mr. Senevirathne states states that the 1st Respondent’s actions were deliberately and maliciously carried out with the intention of preventing him from contesting, and/or disrupting his candidacy for the position of Chairman of the Sri Lanka Olympic Committee at the election scheduled for April 25, 2026, and/or misleading the electorate.

The timing of the campaign — with the post appearing just days before the election — is cited as a clear indicator of its targeted and pre-meditated nature. Mr. Senevirathne characterises the conduct as “harassment” within the meaning of the Online Safety Act.

The Legal Framework: Online Safety Act No. 9 of 2024

The petition was filed invoking Section 24(1) of the Online Safety Act, No. 9 of 2024, which entitles a person affected by a “prohibited statement” to seek relief from a Magistrate. Section 20(1) of the same Act makes it an offence, punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding Rs. 500,000, for any person to intentionally publish or communicate personal information of a targeted person with the intention of harassing them.

Section 24(2) empowers the Magistrate to issue a conditional order at the outset, before the full hearing, where the circumstances so warrant. This was precisely invoked by the Petitioner, and the Magistrate having found sufficient grounds, granted the interim order against the 1st Respondent, Mr. Rizly Illiyas.

Notably, not only was Mr. Illiyas named as the 1st Respondent, but WhatsApp LLC, Instagram LLC, and Meta Platforms, Inc. — the parent platforms through which the offending content was distributed — were also named as the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Respondents respectively, as “internet intermediaries” under the Act.

The Interim Order

Upon supporting the application by the counsel, an interim order was issued by the Magistrate Court of Colombo in Case No. MC 76451 legally restraining Mr. Rizly Illiyas from communicating, transmitting, distributing, sharing, generating, publishing, promoting, or soliciting any personal information or prohibited statement pertaining to Mr. Asanga Senevirathne through any online platform or medium.

The petitioner has also sought that the court direct the Online Safety Commission to disable access to the offending online content and order the relevant internet intermediaries to take all necessary steps to remove the prohibited statements. The matter is to be called before court within two weeks for further proceedings.

The public and all social media users are hereby put on notice of this court order. Anyone who aids, abets, shares, or further disseminates the defamatory content subject to this order may expose themselves to strict legal consequences.

The Legal Team

Mr. Senevirathne was represented in court by Mr. Shivan Coorey, Senior Attorney-at-Law, and Mr. Rukshan Mendis, Attorney-at-Law. Both counsel appeared with the instructions of Neethika Partners, a team of Attorneys-at-Law — Mr. Chameera Haputhanthri, Mr. Thanuj Sandaruwan, and Ms. Nikini Mapitigama — who provided guidance and coordination throughout these proceedings.

The case is expected to be closely followed by Sri Lanka’s legal, sporting, and civil society communities as one of the early judicial tests of the Online Safety Act’s powers to restrain the misuse of social media platforms for targeted personal attacks.

April 26, Colombo (LNW): Preparations for the upcoming Vesak and Poson Poya festivals are now under way, with authorities announcing the start of the registration process for Dansal events across the country.

According to Chamil Muthukuda, General Secretary of the Public Health Inspectors’ Association, individuals and groups intending to organise Dansals must notify the Public Health Inspector assigned to their respective area in advance.

This step, he noted, is essential to ensure proper monitoring and compliance with health and safety standards.

Organisers are required to submit key details, including the exact location of the Dansal and the type of food or refreshments they plan to distribute. Authorities say this information will help inspectors assess hygiene conditions, food handling practices, and crowd management arrangements.

Health officials have also urged organisers to maintain high standards of cleanliness and ensure safe preparation and storage of food, particularly as large numbers of devotees are expected to participate in these charitable offerings.

The registration initiative is part of a broader effort to safeguard public health during the festive period, while allowing communities to continue the long-standing tradition of offering free meals and services in a safe and well-regulated manner.

April 26, Colombo (LNW): A high-level delegation from Sri Lanka, headed by Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, held a series of strategic meetings in Oslo during an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fisheries industry.

Talks with senior representatives of Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries centred on modernising Sri Lanka’s marine sector, with a particular emphasis on technology transfer and capacity building. Both sides highlighted the importance of sustainable practices and innovation in ensuring long-term growth.

During discussions with Gunnar Stølsvik, attention turned to the satellite-based vessel monitoring system offered through the Blue Justice programme. Sri Lanka is exploring the possibility of accessing this system at no cost, which would allow authorities to better track fishing activity and combat illegal operations in its waters. Norwegian officials also indicated their willingness to provide technical training to ensure effective implementation.

Further engagements were held with Anita Utheim Iversen of the Global Action Network on Sustainable Food Security. These discussions focused on improving the nutritional standards and market value of fish products. Sri Lanka was invited to participate in an international knowledge-sharing platform on food composition, opening avenues for institutions such as the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency to benefit from global expertise.

Minister Chandrasekar noted that closer collaboration with Norway would support efforts to modernise the fisheries sector, enhance sustainability, and align local practices with international benchmarks.

Senior officials accompanying the delegation, including Ministry Secretary B. K. Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa and Director General of Fisheries S. J. Kahawatta, also took part in the discussions, which are expected to pave the way for further cooperation agreements in the coming months.

April 26, Colombo (LNW): In a move aimed at revitalising grassroots medical services, the Ministry of Health and Media has formalised agreements with all nine Provincial Councils to channel a total of Rs. 3.6 billion into the country’s primary healthcare network.

The funding, allocated under the Primary Health Care System Strengthening Project, is expected to be disbursed annually, with each province receiving approximately Rs. 400 million to support improvements in local health services.

Authorities say the programme is designed to address long-standing gaps in accessibility, infrastructure, and service delivery at the community level.

Through this initiative, nearly 1,700 primary care facilities, including Medical Officer of Health offices, are set to undergo upgrades. Planned improvements include refurbishment of buildings, better medical equipment, enhanced digital record systems, and expanded patient care services.

Health officials noted that the collaboration between the central government and Provincial Councils is intended to create a more coordinated and efficient healthcare framework. By strengthening early diagnosis and preventive care, the programme is also expected to ease pressure on larger hospitals and reduce overcrowding.

In addition to infrastructure development, discussions are under way to introduce further training for healthcare staff and improve resource management, ensuring that the benefits of the investment are sustained over the long term.

April 26, Colombo (LNW): Questions are being raised over possible lapses within a key institution following the diversion of a US$ 2.5 million foreign debt payment, with authorities examining whether internal vulnerabilities may have contributed to the incident.

Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne revealed that investigators have already gathered substantial evidence as part of the ongoing inquiry. While early concerns hinted at a potential cyber breach, initial findings now suggest a more deceptive approach may have been used.

According to the Deputy Minister, the incident appears to involve a carefully orchestrated impersonation scheme. Fraudsters are believed to have created a web domain and email address closely resembling that of a legitimate international entity, enabling them to convincingly pose as authorised representatives. This, he explained, led officials to process the transaction under false pretences.

He indicated that the communication used in the scheme was sophisticated enough to bypass routine scrutiny, with only minor discrepancies separating it from genuine correspondence. These subtle differences, he noted, may have gone unnoticed, allowing the fraudulent instructions to be acted upon.

Despite speculation, Weeraratne stressed that there is currently no conclusive evidence pointing to deliberate involvement from within the institution. Instead, the focus has shifted towards identifying procedural weaknesses and improving verification mechanisms to prevent similar occurrences.

He added that investigations are continuing, with authorities working to establish a full timeline of events, identify those responsible, and determine how the deception was executed. A detailed report outlining the findings and recommended safeguards is expected to be released once the inquiry is complete.

April 26, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is set to receive a significant boost to its energy reserves as the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) confirmed the arrival of a large crude oil consignment today.

According to Managing Director Mayura Neththikumarage, the incoming tanker is carrying approximately 95,000 metric tonnes of crude oil, marking one of several planned deliveries aimed at strengthening fuel availability across the country.

He further indicated that additional shipments are already in the pipeline. A smaller consignment of around 9,500 metric tonnes is expected to dock tomorrow, followed by another substantial delivery of 36,000 metric tonnes scheduled for arrival on the 28th.

Authorities say these staggered imports are part of a broader strategy to maintain steady supply levels and avoid disruptions.

Officials have expressed confidence that, with these deliveries, fuel stocks will remain stable for the foreseeable future. Neththikumarage noted that the combined shipments should comfortably meet national demand at least until the end of June, barring any unexpected surges in consumption.

April 26, Colombo (LNW): The government has stepped up efforts to tackle the country’s rising number of road accidents through a wide-ranging initiative under its National Transport Action Plan, according to Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Ratnayake.

Speaking at a specialised workshop in Colombo, the Minister noted that road collisions claim over 2,700 lives each year, describing the figure as a serious national concern. He said the current administration, which assumed office roughly a year and a half ago, has already begun rolling out long-term measures aimed at reversing this trend.

His remarks were delivered during a one-day programme organised by the National Institute of Transport Medicine, focusing on the principles and application of random drug testing. The session, held at the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration, brought together a broad mix of professionals, including doctors, forensic specialists, laboratory personnel and technical experts, with support from the Government Analyst’s Department.

Ratnayake stressed that improving roads and introducing newer vehicles alone would not guarantee safer travel. He argued that meaningful progress depends equally on responsible behaviour, proper driver training and strict adherence to regulations.

He pointed out that more than half of reported accidents are linked to driver error, while a notable proportion involves individuals under the influence of drugs. These factors, he said, continue to undermine safety despite ongoing infrastructure upgrades.

The Minister outlined plans to significantly reduce fatalities by 2029, with a strategy that includes tighter enforcement, enhanced driver education, and the introduction of vehicles better suited to local conditions. He added that reforms are also being shaped with greater attention to safety standards and accountability within the transport sector.

Emphasising that road safety is a shared responsibility, Ratnayake called for sustained public cooperation alongside policy measures, warning that without a collective effort, lasting change would remain difficult to achieve.

April 26, Colombo (LNW): Assistant Superintendent of Police Fredrick Wootler, who serves as the Police Media Spokesperson, left the country yesterday (25) to attend a high-level international conference hosted by INTERPOL in Lyon, France.

The event, titled the First Global Conference for Public Communication, is expected to bring together senior law enforcement officials and communication specialists from around the world. During the sessions, ASP Wootler is set to deliver a presentation focusing on Sri Lanka’s approach to maintaining public safety and coordinating welfare assistance during recent emergencies, including natural disasters and crisis situations.

According to police sources, his address will also touch on the evolving role of media units within law enforcement, particularly in managing misinformation and ensuring timely communication with the public during critical incidents.

Officials noted that his invitation to speak at the forum represents a notable first for Sri Lanka, as no previous Police Media Spokesperson from the country has been selected to deliver a dedicated presentation at a global policing event of this scale.

The conference is scheduled to run from April 28 to 30, 2026 in Lyon, where discussions are expected to centre on modern communication strategies, crisis response, and strengthening public trust in policing institutions worldwide.