The much-anticipated amendments to the Online Safety Act (OSA) will be tabled in Parliament within a month, according to Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala.

A committee comprising officials from the Ministries of Public Security, Mass Media, and Justice was initially tasked with drafting changes to the controversial legislation. 

Following extensive deliberations, the draft had been handed over to the Ministry of Mass Media for further refinement, and subsequently to the Ministry of Justice for finalisation ahead of its submission to Parliament, Wijepala said. 

“The President had also commented on the amendment recently, so the amendment will be presented in Parliament very soon. Perhaps even sooner than you expect,” he said.

While refraining from disclosing specific details prior to finalisation, the Minister noted that further information regarding the proposed changes would be made public within the week.

Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara stated that the matter was now under the purview of the Ministry of Mass Media. “We will support them if needed, but you will have to contact Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa for further details,” Nanayakkara said.

Attempts to reach Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa were unsuccessful, while Deputy Minister of Mass Media Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni was unable to comment at the time and further attempts to contact him were unsuccessful. Mass Media Ministry Additional Secretary (Development) N.A.K.L. Wijenayake also declined to comment, stating he was otherwise occupied.