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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The US expressed considerations over Sri Lanka‘s on-line law invoice Thursday, an afternoon after it handed overwhelmingly in Parliament over protests by way of the media, opposition and rights activists.
The On-line Protection invoice permits the federal government to arrange a fee with quite a lot of powers, together with ordering other folks and web carrier suppliers to take away on-line posts deemed “prohibited statements.” It might probably additionally legally pursue individuals who post such posts.
Julie Chung, the U.S. ambassador in Sri Lanka, stated the USA has considerations in regards to the possible have an effect on of the law and recommended “Sri Lanka to prioritize transparency and make sure any law does now not stifle the voices of its other folks .”
“Along with jeopardizing democratic values, obscure and overly restrictive law can obstruct funding and the advance of a virtual financial system, undermining the commercial enlargement that Sri Lanka wishes,” Chung stated in a observation posted on her X account.
Sri Lanka’s so-called On-line Protection invoice has been the topic of vital opposition.
Critics say the regulation is an strive by way of Sri Lanka’s governing coalition to stifle speech in an election yr because the Indian Ocean island country copes with an financial disaster that required a global bailout.
The media, opposition lawmakers, web and civil rights teams say the measure would undermine human rights and freedom of expression.
Human Rights Watch stated Wednesday that the invoice would create a repressive regulation with extensive and obscure “speech-related offenses punishable by way of long jail phrases.”
The Asia Web Coalition, which has Apple, Amazon, Google and Yahoo as contributors, warned that the invoice may just undermine possible enlargement and overseas direct funding into Sri Lanka’s virtual financial system.
The federal government stated the law addresses issues associated with on-line fraud, abuse and false statements that threaten nationwide safety and balance. It denied the invoice was once drafted to annoy media or political fighters.
Sri Lanka is suffering to emerge from its worst financial disaster, which hit the island country two years in the past. The rustic declared chapter in 2022, with greater than $83 billion in debt, greater than part of it owed to overseas collectors.
The disaster led to serious shortages of meals, gas and different must haves, which fed strident public protests that resulted in the ouster of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. After Rajapaksa fled, then-High Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was once appointed as president by way of parliament.
The IMF agreed final yr to a $2.9 billion bailout bundle for the hard-hit nation.
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Shortages of requirements have since abated, however public dissatisfaction has intensified as the federal government imposed new taxes on pros and companies and raised power expenses.
Rights teams say that with the presidential election coming later this yr, Wickremesinghe has sought to stifle dissent by way of cracking down on anti-government protests and arresting protestors and activists.
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