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FOE and Internet in Sri Lanka

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FOE and Internet in Sri Lanka Freedom of Expression and the Internet in Sri Lanka Centre for Policy Alternatives August 2010 The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) gratefully acknowledges the financing of the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung für die Freiheit (FNST) that supported the research reflected in this report. The Foundation’s work focuses on the core values of freedom and responsibility. Through its projects FNF contribute to a world in which all people can live in freedom, human dignity and peace. The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is an independent, non-partisan organization that focuses primarily on issues of governance and conflict resolution. Formed in 1996 in the firm belief that the vital contribution of civil society to the public policy debate is in need of strengthening, CPA is committed to programmes of research and advocacy through which public policy is critiqued, alternatives identified and disseminated. Address: 24/2 28th Lane, off Flower Road Colombo 7 Telephone: +94 (11) 2565304/5/6 Fax: +94 (11) 4714460 Web www.cpalanka.org Email [email protected] Freedom of Expression and the Internet in Sri Lanka | 2 Centre for Policy Alternatives 2010 Map of Sri Lanka Freedom of Expression and the Internet in Sri Lanka | 3 Centre for Policy Alternatives 2010 Contents Acronyms ..................................................................................................................................................6 Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................7 Global trends in Internet regulation ..........................................................................................................10 Physical Level ..........................................................................................................................................10 Connectivity level .....................................................................................................................................14 Applications level .....................................................................................................................................15 Content level ...........................................................................................................................................18 Private individuals and content restrictions ..............................................................................................18 Government efforts to regulate content ...................................................................................................19 Internet in Sri Lanka ................................................................................................................................23 Regulatory framework .............................................................................................................................23 The diminishing space for freedom of expression online ..........................................................................25 Shutting down websites .........................................................................................................................25 Attacks online journalists .........................................................................................................................27 Statements undermining freedom of expression ......................................................................................29 Surveillance .............................................................................................................................................30 Efforts to regulate online content .............................................................................................................31 The fight on pornography ........................................................................................................................35 Post war developments ..........................................................................................................................36 Structural causes ....................................................................................................................................38 Legal limits to freedom of expression in Sri Lanka ...................................................................................40 National Security Laws ............................................................................................................................40 Emergency Regulations ..........................................................................................................................40 Prevention of Terrorism Act .....................................................................................................................43 General laws ...........................................................................................................................................43 Sri Lanka Press Council Law ...................................................................................................................43 Official Secrets Act ..................................................................................................................................44 Defamation ..............................................................................................................................................45 Contempt of Court ..................................................................................................................................45 Parliamentary Privilege ............................................................................................................................46 Penal Code .............................................................................................................................................46 The Public Performance Ordinance .........................................................................................................47 Obscene Publications Ordinance ............................................................................................................47 Profane Publications Act .........................................................................................................................47 Freedom of Expression and the Internet in Sri Lanka | 4 Centre for Policy Alternatives 2010 Enforcing content restricting laws to the online sphere ............................................................................48 Freedom of expression in Sri Lanka .........................................................................................................52 Constitutional texts .................................................................................................................................52 Restrictions .............................................................................................................................................56 Application to the Internet .......................................................................................................................59 The Internet and Privacy .........................................................................................................................61 Constitutional Protection .........................................................................................................................64 Legislative Framework .............................................................................................................................65 Indian experiences ..................................................................................................................................72 South Africa ............................................................................................................................................73 Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................................75 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................77 List of works cited ...................................................................................................................................79 Books 79 Case Law ................................................................................................................................................79 Legislation ...............................................................................................................................................80 Internet sources ......................................................................................................................................81 Reports ...................................................................................................................................................89 Newspaper Articles .................................................................................................................................89 Journal Articles .......................................................................................................................................89 Correspondence .....................................................................................................................................89 Freedom of Expression and the Internet in Sri Lanka | 5 Centre for Policy Alternatives 2010 Acronyms ACMA Australian Communications and Media
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