Colombo: The apex court in Sri Lanka on Friday set January 24 as the next date for further hearing of a case filed challenging the government`s move to block five news websites for content that was deemed insulting.
On December 5, Free Media Movement -- a media rights group -- filed a fundamental rights application in the Supreme Court saying the move breaches the people`s freedom of expression and right to information. The Attorney General, who represented the government, objected that the group had no legal basis to file the case when the application was taken up by the Supreme Court on Friday, officials said.
The Information and Media Ministry had ordered the blocking of the sites lankaenews.com, srilankamirror.com, srilankaguardian.com, paparasinews.com, gossip9.com and lankawaynews.com last month, saying they deliberately insulted individuals including key political leaders.
The ministry had also issued a directive that all websites need to be registered with them. Rights groups termed the move as undemocratic. The US Embassy in Colombo last month urged the authorities and telecommunications firms "to stop activities aimed at blocking free access in Sri Lanka to all legitimate media websites". PTI