‘Hmmm, lately it’s getting harder to spread propaganda in Sri Lanka.’
Internet monitoring organization NetBlocks confirmed Sri Lanka was blocking any access to major social media platforms after its government declared a state of emergency to address the escalating unrest during a major economic crisis.
NetBlocks in a Tweet stated that Sri Lanka had imposed social media restrictions across the country including access to Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and Instagram when a state of emergency was declared amid widespread protests.
Also confirming the matter, a senior police superintendent known as Nihal Thalduwa said the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission in Colombo had announced restrictions on social media in the country.
Thalduwa also said a total of 644 people were detained for violating a curfew by police in the Western Province, the most populous administrative part of the country including Colombo.
Generally, restrictions on such social media platforms were implemented after the Sri Lankan government announced a curfew to address riots over government handling in the increasingly violent economic crisis.
It lasts until 6 a.m. Monday local time.
Turning to the main topic, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Chairman Jayantha de Silva reported that the social media ban was temporary and imposed on special instructions given by the Ministry of Defense.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency on Friday after fears of a crackdown on protests over inflation in the country as well as shortages of essential goods and power cuts.
It then introduced restrictions on social media aimed at the interest of the country and the people to maintain calm.
