COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is drafting a new legislation to curb the growing incidents of religious slander and online vitriol, according to the country’s religious affairs minister. The move comes after a stand-up comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya allegedly made certain derogatory remarks on religions, which she uploaded online. She offered an apology, but a complaint was filed and she was taken into custody on Sunday while trying to fly out of the country.
Sri Lanka’s minister of Buddhashasana, religious, and cultural affairs Vidura Wickramanayaka on Sunday said a legislation would soon be passed to curb the growing incidents of religious slander in the country. “This will stop all incidents of demeaning religion on social media,” he said. The controversy surrounding Edirisooriya’s comments is not a one-off incident. Earlier this month, Pastor Jerome Fernando, a self-styled god-man, was accused of derogatory comments on Lord Buddha, which went viral on social media.
Sri Lanka’s minister of Buddhashasana, religious, and cultural affairs Vidura Wickramanayaka on Sunday said a legislation would soon be passed to curb the growing incidents of religious slander in the country. “This will stop all incidents of demeaning religion on social media,” he said. The controversy surrounding Edirisooriya’s comments is not a one-off incident. Earlier this month, Pastor Jerome Fernando, a self-styled god-man, was accused of derogatory comments on Lord Buddha, which went viral on social media.