Sri Lankan Parliament voted on the controversial online security bill, know what it is?

Sri Lanka’s parliament voted on Tuesday to proceed with a scheduled debate on a controversial online security bill that critics say will hamper freedom of expression. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene had called for a vote to decide whether the two-day debate should go ahead. Out of 225 MLAs, 83 voted in favor of holding the debate while 50 voted against it.

Opposition parties had asked for more time to deliberate on the bill. Opposition MPs and other critics have warned that the online security bill could be a threat to freedom of expression. Tiran Ales, the public security minister, opened the debate by saying that the Supreme Court had suggested amendments to the bill and they would be included after the bill is approved in parliament on Wednesday. While Ailes was speaking, a citizens’ group demonstrated near Parliament to protest the bill.

The purpose of the Bill is to establish an Online Safety Commission, to make provisions for prohibiting the online communication of certain statements of fact in Sri Lanka and to prevent the use of online accounts and inauthentic online accounts for prohibited purposes. It also provides for other support to identify and declare online spaces used for prohibited purposes in the island nation, suppress the financing and communication of false statements of fact. The Asian Internet Alliance (AIC) objected to the bill in a letter to Ailes.