Sri Lanka’s Online Safety Repeal Is Still Unfinished

A repeal bill has moved through Parliament, but the official bill tracker still does not show repeal completed. For journalists and digital-rights observers, process matters as much as political promises.

20 October 2026 • Lanka Witness Evidence Desk

Sri Lanka’s contested Online Safety Act remains a useful test of a wider question facing the country’s reform agenda: how quickly does a promise become enforceable legal reality?

Parliament’s published Online Safety (Repeal) Bill is unambiguous in its intended effect: it would repeal the Online Safety Act No. 9 of 2024 and regulations made under it. Parliamentary business records show the repeal proposal reached second reading on 23 June 2026 and was referred to the Legislative Standing Committee. On 10 July, Parliament announced co-opted members for consideration of the bill.

Yet Parliament’s current bill-tracking page still lists the repeal measure as “Pending for 2nd reading.” That conflicts with Parliament’s own later business record showing the second reading occurred. Lanka Witness therefore treats the tracker as administratively incomplete or stale rather than as proof that the June proceeding did not happen.

Why the legal status matters

The distinction is not procedural trivia. Until repeal is completed and brought into legal effect, institutions, journalists, technology companies and ordinary users need clarity about what law remains operative and what enforcement powers remain available.

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has previously raised freedom-of-expression concerns about the Online Safety framework and, in February 2026, recommended a moratorium on its use pending repeal and replacement. International rights criticism has similarly focused on the risk of vague online-speech rules chilling lawful expression.

Reform should be measurable

A government can legitimately take time to consult, amend and legislate. But reform claims should be measured against documents rather than announcements. For the Online Safety Act, the relevant evidence is straightforward: committee records, the final parliamentary vote, Speaker’s endorsement, commencement provisions and any replacement legislation.

This is particularly important for foreign missions and international organisations assessing Sri Lanka’s civic space. A bill that intends to repeal a controversial law is evidence of movement. It is not the same as repeal having legally taken effect.

The next transparency step

Parliament should keep its public bill tracker aligned with the House’s own proceedings. A modern legislature’s online records are part of public accountability; conflicting status information makes it unnecessarily difficult for citizens, journalists and international observers to establish the legal position.

Lanka Witness assessment: The repeal process is documented and meaningful, but the public record does not yet justify describing the Online Safety Act as definitively repealed. The official status should be clarified and the remaining legislative steps made visible.

Image: Vikalpa | Groundviews | Maatram | CPA / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Historical media-freedom protest image used illustratively.