By Deshani Samaragunarathna
In the contemporary landscape of the Middle East, information technology has become a potent tool for power. The region's social and political landscapes are diversifying, reflecting significant changes in how information is disseminated, consumed, and wielded. Over the past few decades, particularly since the Arab Spring, the media landscape has transformed dramatically.…
By Kaushalya Wickramanayake
Brief Context of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved from sci-fi fantasy to modern technology in a blink of an eye. In today’s world, Apple Siri is ready to engage in conversation whenever someone is feeling bored, Google Assistant provides recommendations for the best stores to purchase favorite dresses based on…
By Kasun Thilina Kariyawasam
Many people have benefited from the ancient Chinese silk road, which connected large parts of the world. When we think of the Silk Road, we immediately think of silk, porcelain, and various precious stones. However, the Silk Road was also a route for countries to share knowledge and technology. Cotton weaving…
By Britney Martil
South Asia continues to grapple with the complex challenge of internet censorship. As governments deploy measures to control online content and restrict connectivity, concerns surrounding digital freedom have grown.
This comparative analysis sheds light on the nuanced landscape of internet censorship in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, examining key incidents, government actions, and…
By Jagath Liyanarachchi
Background
Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Mass Media and Ali Sabry, President’s Counsel, Minister of Justice, presented a cabinet paper on April 1, 2022, seeking permission from the Cabinet of Ministers to present a draft of a bill to “protect society from the harm caused by false propaganda on the internet.”
This had…
By Uditha Devapriya with Nevindi Jayawardana and Dilshan Bataduwaarachchi
By the time Pakistanis headed for elections on February 8, Imran Khan had been served a 14-year jail sentence, on top of other charges and allegations. Barely a week earlier, Khan, the country’s most popular Opposition figure, had been disqualified from holding office for 10…
By Jagath Liyanaarachchi
Online Safety Bill
As per the directive of the Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles, the Online Safety Bill was published in the Gazette on September 18, 2023. On October 10, 2023, the bill was tabled in the Parliament for the first reading.
The Bill envisages the establishment of a Commission for…
By Muhammad Aftab Alam
A review of Proposed Legislation in Pakistan and Sri Lanka
In September 2023, the Sri Lankan government introduced an Online Safety Bill to establish an “Online Safety Commission”, the purported objective being “to prevent the use of online accounts and inauthentic online accounts for prohibited purposes and to suppress the financing…
By Jagath Liyanarachchi
On September 18, 2023, the Draft Online Safety Bill was published in the Sri Lankan Government Gazette on the orders of the Minister of Justice. The following is a brief introduction to the Bill.
Objectives of the Bill
As stated in Section 3, the purpose of the Bill is
1/ To protect…
By Malidu Mihisara
Aluth alut de nothanana jaathiya lowa nonagi Siga kema beri wunu thana lagii gaya mara gii
These lines were written by the Sri Lankan poet and author Cumaratunga Munidasa. A nation that does not innovate, he observes, will never prosper, and will eventually have to beg.
I would like to go beyond Munidasa’s reading.…
Read Part I of this article here.
By Kasun Thilina Kariyawasam
In general, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) can help businesses and individuals engage in international trade and investment, by providing a stable, regulated, and transparent currency that mitigates some of the risks associated with cross-border transactions.
CBDCs for firms
A CBDC can help…
By Uditha Devapriya
How one team came together to resolve Sri Lanka’s intractable fuel shortages
On June 27, Sri Lankans woke up to some rather dismal news: the country had run out of fuel, and the government would limit stocks to essential services and industries for two weeks. The situation was so bad that the…