• Says current legislation has gaps in combating gender-based harassment, hate speech, online bullying, threats of violence
• OSA review near completion 

The Government’s desire to regulate social media is set to be addressed by the ongoing reform process of the Online Safety Act (OSA), according to Deputy Minister of Mass Media Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne.

Her comments come in the wake of Minister of Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa’s recent remarks in Parliament on the necessity of laws to regulate social media.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Dr. Ariyarathne stated that the Government had identified several gaps in the OSA, specifically in addressing gender-based harassment, hate speech, and other forms of online harassment and violence that needed to be addressed. 

She also noted that the current laws were not always sufficient in dealing with large organisations and people.

Dr. Ariyarathne said: “We do not agree with certain sections of the act. There was also significant criticism from society, saying that some sections needed to be amended.”

She said that in response, the Cabinet had appointed a committee headed by a representative of the Attorney General’s Department to review the entire act. The committee had been appointed nearly a year ago and had opened up the reform process for public consultations as well. 

“People and organisations sent their suggestions for the changes,” she noted. 

According to Dr. Ariyarathne, the committee is now in the process of reviewing proposals which will be incorporated into the amendment. 

She stated that there was no particular date of completion, but that the reform process was approaching completion. “It is almost completed as of the last update I received in December. Further work related to language changes and translations of the reforms remains,” she explained.

Once the amendment is finalised and reviewed through all the procedures, including sectoral oversight, it will be forwarded for Cabinet approval.

The Online Safety Act No.9 of 2024 is a legal framework that addresses harmful online communications like false statements, harassment, hate speech, and content that threatens national security or public order.