False news and hate speech laws to be toughened

(FASTNEWS|COLOMBO) – Laws are to be urgently toughened to crack down on false news distribution and to curb hate speech in a bid to reduce the current spate of conflict aggravating public messaging, the Department of Government Information announced on Wednesday (05).

Cabinet approval has been granted for the revision of the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code enabling swift and stringent legal action to be taken against those who engage in false news distribution and hate speech.

The Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security had requested the Ministry of Justice and Prison Reforms to make the necessary amendments which would enable legal action to be taken against those spreading false news and hate speech.