Concerns around the lack of clarity regarding policy reform, and digitalisation projects [ Letter to AKD]
His Excellency Anura Kumara Dissanayake
President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Presidential Secretariat, Colombo 01
29 January 2025
Your Excellency,
Concerns around the lack of clarity regarding policy reform, and digitalisation projects
We are writing to express concerns regarding three critical matters of public policy and governance that require urgent
attention and greater transparency from your administration.
Firstly, regarding the amendments to the Online Safety Act (OSA), there is significant concern about the lack of public
disclosure regarding the proposed changes. While the Ministry of Mass Media has indicated that stakeholder discussions
are planned, there remains no clarity on who is drafting these amendments, what specific changes are being considered,
and crucially, whether normative human rights standards are being incorporated. Given that the original Act was widely
condemned, including by the entire industry (which was historically unprecedented), and faced 54 fundamental rights
petitions, it is essential that any new amendments undergo rigorous public scrutiny, consultation, and input from individu-
als with subject-domain expertise in online harm regulations.
Secondly, the implementation of the e-NIC project raises serious concerns due to the absence of clear strategic communi-
cations, and public documentation. There has been no transparency regarding the technical safeguards for biometric data
protection, compliance frameworks with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), or specific legal mechanisms govern-
ing relationships with external vendors. This information vacuum has already allowed speculation, and disinformation to
flourish, potentially undermining public trust in this critical national infrastructure project.
Thirdly, the recent media agreements signed with Chinese state broadcasters and information departments during your
visit to Beijing require immediate clarification. The BBC Sinhala Service reports that six separate agreements were signed with Chinese state media organisations, yet their content remains undisclosed. Given China’s ranking of 172nd out of 180 countries in press freedom indices, and the documented concerns about state control of media narratives, these agreements demand public scrutiny to ensure they align with Sri Lanka’s democratic values, and commitment to media freedom – especially in the context of China’s active influence
operations on social media.
Your Excellency, your administration came to power promising a different approach to governance. However,
these three instances suggest a concerning continuation of previous patterns of policy implementation without
adequate public consultation or transparency. The government already knows how much a robust democracy
requires not just good policies but also clear communication, public accountability, and meaningful stakeholder
engagement in the policymaking process. We only ask that the promises made around a shift in, and the desper-
ately needed reform of our political culture, including policymaking, are realised.
We respectfully urge you to address these concerns by immediately making public the relevant documentation, establish-
ing clear consultation frameworks, seeking the input from experts, and ensuring that all policy decisions are communicat-
ed in a timely manner with the transparency and accountability that the Sri Lankan people deserve.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration.
Yours sincerely,
On behalf of the Collective for Social Media Declaration (CSMD)
Samapth Samarakoon (Convener)
Signed:
ActNow Youth Campaign
Best Vision foundation
Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)
Eastern Province Journalist’s forum
groundviews.org
Human Elevation Organization (HEO)
Internet Media Action (IMA)
Jaffna Press Club
Low & Society Trust (LST)
minormatters.org
maatram.org
Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR)
National Collaboration Development Foundation (NCDF)
SARVODAYA Shramadana Movement
Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum
Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA)
vikalpa.org
Wedabima Media collective
(CC)
Mr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Mass Media
Mr. Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament
All Members of Parliament
All Media Institution
*Sinhala/ Tamil/ English PDF Letter here
