The arrest and subsequent release on bail of a social media activist affiliated with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has triggered renewed debate over media freedom, freedom of expression and the public’s right to information in Sri Lanka.
Ashan Madhushanka, described as a social media activist linked to the SJB, was released on bail on 6th May by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court after being arrested the same day by Dehiwala Police on allegations of criminal trespass and misuse of public property at the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council. The court ordered his release on a personal bond of Rs. 100,000.
Police said the arrest followed a complaint lodged by Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Deputy Mayor Vindana Edirisuriya, who alleged that Madhushanka had unlawfully entered the opposition councillors’ office within the municipal council and used public facilities — including a computer, electricity and a photocopying machine — to produce and upload a video to social media platforms. According to the complaint, the activist had represented himself as a social media operator for SJB municipal councillor Channa Wikumge.
However, opposition figures have framed the arrest as an assault on freedom of expression and digital journalism. While the activist was in custody, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa visited the Dehiwala Police Station and publicly condemned the arrest, asserting that Madhushanka’s actions were aimed at safeguarding the public’s right to information.
Addressing journalists, Premadasa said the arrest appeared to infringe fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including freedom of speech, freedom of expression and the right to information. He argued that social media activists play an increasingly important role in informing the public and scrutinising local governance, particularly in the digital age.
“He acted in defence of the people’s right to information,” Premadasa said, adding that attempts to criminalise such actions risk creating a chilling effect on media workers, citizen journalists and online activists.
The incident has drawn attention to the broader issue of how authorities التعامل with digital media actors and opposition-linked communicators, especially when their reporting or content relates to public institutions and the use of public resources. Media freedom advocates have long warned that arrests and police action in such contexts can discourage investigative reporting and limit transparency, even when cases are framed as administrative or property-related offences.
The controversy is further underscored by recent concerns over restrictions on media access to political events. Premadasa’s comments on the public’s right to information were made amid criticism following an incident on 1 May, when journalists were reportedly denied access to cover a May Day rally organised by the SJB — an episode that has sparked wider discussion about consistent standards for media access across the political spectrum.
Following his court appearance this afternoon, Ashan Madhushanka was released on bail. The case is expected to continue, with legal proceedings likely to test the balance between the protection of public property and the constitutional guarantees of free expression and access to information.
Observers note that the outcome will be closely watched by journalists, civil society groups and digital rights advocates, as it may set an important precedent for how Sri Lanka approaches media freedom in an era where social media activists increasingly operate alongside traditional journalists
(With the input from News First)