Event Summary
On 13 August 2025, the Ministry of Justice of Sri Lanka invited the general public, including both local and international media organizations, to submit their observations, comments, recommendations, and suggestions regarding the proposed amendments to the Online Safety Act No. 09 of 2024 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’ or ‘OSA’).
Members of the public have been granted a period of one month from 13 August 2025 to submit their inputs.
This development follows a decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, pursuant to which the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs appointed a committee to review the Act and the amendments published in the Gazette on July 31, 2024. The committee has been mandated to conduct public consultations prior to finalizing its recommendations.
This initiative is regarded as a significant opportunity for diverse stakeholders, including human rights activists, journalists, media professionals, subject experts, and civil society at large, to provide constructive feedback on a law that has frequently been criticized for being misused since its enactment.
If implemented in earnest, the government is expected to not only take into account the feedback received but also to facilitate further consultations. Such an approach would contribute to shaping the amendments to the Act while simultaneously upholding best practices in participatory governance through public consultation.