Minister Harin Fernando has called for action against false news reports on social media under the Online Safety Act (OSA).

Fernando had reportedly written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) urging action to be taken against some false claims concerning him. 

The Minister had made this statement to the media in reference to the recent controversy surrounding the issuance of visas to foreign visitors, where allegations were made that the process was outsourced to Indian companies. 

“I have written to the IGP in this regard. I will be lodging a complaint under the provisions of the OSA. There have been false posts published online, claiming that I am the person behind the Indian company issuing visas,” he had said. 

The Minister had noted that a statement made by him previously that Sri Lanka’s airport management operations may be outsourced to an Indian company had been confused with the recent controversy. 

“The airports come under the purview of the Civil Aviation Authority, which comes under Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. Immigration meanwhile comes under the purview of Minister Tiran Alles. I have no connection with either. Airport management and immigration are two different fields,” Fernando had explained. 

However, Fernando had urged the IGP to take action against those who had made false statements against him. “There must be a limit to making false allegations against a person,” he had added.