The Sri Lanka Professional Journalists Association strongly protests the statement made by the Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Sunil Watagala, calling for severe punishment under emergency laws against individuals publishing defamatory content about the President on social media or other platforms during the current disaster situation.
This statement was made on 02 December 2025 at a discussion held at the Malabe Divisional Secretariat, attended by government officials and the Deputy Minister of Mass Media, Kaushalya Ariyaratne. The Deputy Minister claimed that there is an organised campaign to distort information through traditional media, social media, and AI technology, allegedly initiated by individuals abroad. He further instructed police officers that those responsible should be arrested as accused, not merely as suspects, under the Emergency Regulations gazetted following the disaster.
It is deeply concerning that those who once championed freedom of speech and expression are now issuing directives that undermine these fundamental rights. This move signals a dangerous shift away from democratic principles. The Sri Lanka Professional Journalists Association condemns this statement unequivocally, especially in light of repeated threats to media freedom observed during the past year of governance.
Press Release – 03 December 2025