Report in The Island, Oct 17, 2023
Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has moved the Supreme Court against the ‘Online Safety’ Bill. The Catholic
Church has sought the SC intervention in terms of Article 120 read with Articles 121 & 78 of the Constitution &/or Article 134
of the Constitution.
The Cardinal’s petition is the latest in a series of cases filed against the Bill. The petition named the Attorney General as
the respondent. The Church appealed to the SC to Declare and determine that Clauses 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, 20, 21, 22, 23 22, 25, 26, 37, 49 and 56 of the Bill titled ‘Online Safety’ and/or the Bill in its totality, is
inconsistent with Article 3, Article 4(c), Article 10, Article 12, Article 13 (3), Articles 14(1)(a),(b),(c),(e),(f), and (g)
and Article 14A(2) of the Constitution.
The Church also requested the SC to declare and determine that, Clauses 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,
22, 23 22, 25, 26, 37, 49 and 56 of the Bill, titled ‘Online Safety’ and/or the Bill in its totality, require the following of
the appropriate procedure laid down in Article 83 as read with Article 80 of the Constitution for enactment into law, and
couldn’t be enacted into law except unless approved by the people at a Referendum, in addition to a two-thirds vote of the
whole number of the members of Parliament in favour.
The petitioner pointed out that the ‘Online Safety Bill’ blatantly violated a series of International Laws and Conventions
pertaining to United Nations promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights adopted at the 38th Session of the United
Nations Human Rights Council https://island.lk/catholic-church-moves-sc-against-online-safety-bill/
