Government has misled the people with regard to websites – Media activists

Monday, 09 July 2012

Media activists say that despite claims by the government that operating websites that have not been registered is illegal and a violation of a court directive, there is no law that stipulates the registration of websites. The media activists have pointed out that Leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and the Media Center for National Security were misleading the public.

Several websites have now been blocked by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC). A fundamental rights petition filed on the matter was cast aside by the Supreme Court. However, media activists say the Supreme Court had not ruled that operating websites without registration is illegal. 

In the event the Supreme Court had issued such a directive action could have been taken against the websites operating in Sri Lanka without registration legally citing contempt of court. Therefore, the government has now exposed its lies by getting the police to raid website offices.