Sri Lanka new rulers to enact laws to punish those who make “Hate Speech”

Apr 03, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s new rulers’ plan to revise the Penal Code that would make Hate Speech, a punishable offence, Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senarathne said Friday.









“Those who make hate speech will be punished by two years in prison,” Senanrathne told reporters at a media briefing held in Colombo.

The lessons learnt and reconciliation commission (LLRC) which was appointed to look back at the armed struggle Sri Lanka underwent, has observed “hate speech” and literature relating to ethnicity and religion exacerbate ethnic and religious tensions which in turn contribute to communal disharmony. Hence, the cabinet of ministers approved a proposal made by the Minister of Justice, Wijedasa Rajapakse to request the Legal draughtsman to draft a revision to the penal code and to include deterrent laws, to strictly enforce such laws.









Also the cabinet has approved to publish the draft sent by the legal draftsman for publication in the government gazette and present the same in parliament for approval and enactment.