Govt. bent on introducing new laws to weaken democracy – FSP

By Rathindra Kuruwita

All laws introduced by the incumbent government were aimed at weakening democracy, Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), Pubudu Jayagoda said yesterday in Colombo, citing as examples the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill, the Central Bank Bill, and theAnti-Terrorism Bill. They contained provisions inconsistent with the Constitution, he said.

The Rehabilitation Bill had 92 sections which ran counter to the Constitution, he said.

“The Central Bank Bill has 43 sections inconsistent with the Constitution, according to the judiciary. The Anti-Terrorism Bill is violative of the Constitution, and the government had to put it on hold due to public protests,” Jayagoda said.

The government had apparently got cold feet on the Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Bill due to protests, Jayagoda said.On 16 August 2022, a committee was established to formulate a draft bill on the Commission. It comprised academics, experts in the field, and heads of media institutions.

On 22 September, the Cabinet announced that a ministerial subcommittee had been established to set up the commission. The subcommittee was to be headed by the Minister of Justice.

On 26 May 2023, the Opposition MPs questioned the Secretary to the Media Ministry on the proposed law during a parliamentary consultative committee and the latter told the former the Bill had been drafted. Following that meeting, MPs and representatives of the media were given copies of the Bill.

“The Ministry was planning to release the draft law to the public on 07 June. However, due to public outrage, the government on 04 June said that it had no intention of establishing such a Commission,” he said.