Amended Telecom legislation to punish sharing of false info via phones

• Key provisions include fines of up to Rs. 100,000 and disconnection of telephone connections for those causing annoyance or inconvenience
• Deliberate dissemination of false information to incite public commotion may result in fines of up to Rs. 1 m or imprisonment
• Penalties of up to Rs. 100,000 are proposed for individuals providing misleading or false information to telecommunication officers

The Sri Lanka Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill, containing clauses aimed at penalising persons who spread false information via telephone leading to public disturbance, was introduced to Parliament on Friday. 

As per the bill presented to Parliament, by Leader of the House Susil Premajayantha, persons persistently making telephone calls or transmitting messages to cause annoyance or inconvenience without reasonable excuse may face fines up to Rs. 100,000 and disconnection of their telephone connections.

Moreover, those deliberately making calls or sending messages to incite public commotion or disrupt public tranquillity may incur fines up to Rs. 1 million or imprisonment, with continuous offenders facing fines of Rs. 1,500 per day of offence.

Furthermore, persons providing misleading or false information to telecommunication officers may face fines up to Rs. 100,000, with telecommunication apparatus used for false information being forfeited to the State upon magistrate order.

The bill also empowers the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission to oversee submarine cables in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, with assistance from the Sri Lanka Navy, Department of Coast Guard, and Sri Lanka Police.

Additionally, provisions in the bill enable radio service providers to engage in interconnection agreements.

However, concerns have been raised by industry experts on the legislation which is to be amended after 28 years as the Government has not called for any public consultations on the matter.