A court order has been issued today, preventing planned protests near Polduwa Junction, Parliament Road, and surrounding areas. This decision comes on the day when the contentious Online Safety Bill is scheduled for debate in Parliament, with a consequential vote expected later.
The Online Safety Bill has sparked widespread public concern, prompting media, civil society groups, and the Trade Union Collective to voice serious apprehensions regarding the government’s perceived efforts to curtail democratic rights through this legislation.
The proposed law, aimed at regulating online content and safety, has faced criticism for its potential impact on freedom of expression and the right to dissent. As citizens planned protests against the bill, the court order has temporarily restrained such gatherings in the specified areas.