Malwatte prelate welcomes Online Bill to check abuses by social media

BY CYRIL WIMALASURENDRE

KANDY –Most Venerable Tibbatuwawee Sri Sumangala Mahanayaka Thera of the Malwatte Chapter has welcomed the Online Line Bill that was passed by the Parliament recently.

The prelate said that new laws and regulations were needed to meet the requirements of the changing society from time to time. The Online Bill has become necessary in the wake of the social media in the country publishing distorted versions of opinion and news at present in an unprecedented manner.

The Head of the Malwatte Chapter said this addressing a group of representatives of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Association.

The prelates said: “I have my own experience of social media that published distorted news and views regarding me. The Online Bill may be able prevent such harmful publications. However any harmful clauses in the Bill should be amended.”