The Free Media Movement (FMM) says it has identified a trend that is inadvertently blocking and obstructing the right to freedom of expression on social media and deeply concerned about this.
The Free Media Movement said in a statement. The statement further states:
It has been announced that further arrests will be made in connection with the corona epidemic and social media.
In November 2020, a large number of people in the North and East were detained and questioned by security forces over comments and exchanges on social media.
TNA Batticaloa District Parliamentarian Shanakkian Rasamanikkam has even brought this matter to the attention of Parliament on December 05.
Meanwhile, a teacher working at a school in the Jayewardenepura area was reportedly apologized to by the authorities last week for criticizing the education authorities on social media.
The right to freedom of expression can be restricted for reasons such as national security, spreading false news and preventing hate speech. But all this must be done in accordance with the law and should not be an encroachment on the right of the people to enjoy the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Article 14 of the Constitution, as established by various judgments.
The Free Media Movement observes that in the above incidents, the security forces, the police, and various officials have acted in a manner that violates the legal limits and obstructs the right to freedom of expression on social media.
The Free Media Movement urges all responsible parties, including the government, to focus on this situation and ensure that the right to freedom of expression is a constitutional right, and urges all to come forward to defeat this unfavorable trend.