Following the circulation of obscene school-related videos, the government is signalling a decisive shift toward stricter social media regulation, with children’s online safety now at the centre of national policy discussions.
The circulation of obscene videos allegedly involving teachers and a headmaster from a leading Colombo school has reignited national concern over moral decline and the unchecked impact of social media, according to Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa.
Speaking at the Cabinet decision-informing media briefing, the Minister said the incident starkly reflects the erosion of social values in contemporary society. He confirmed that the government has taken the matter seriously and that a formal investigation has already been initiated by the Ministry of Education.
Jayatissa emphasized that the government is giving priority to protecting the identity and privacy of all individuals involved. He urged both mainstream media and social media users to act responsibly when reporting on sensitive incidents, warning that reckless dissemination causes lasting harm.
The Minister cautioned that if self-regulation fails within media and social media platforms, the government would be compelled to introduce stronger regulatory mechanisms. He added that discussions have also focused on strengthening the existing legal framework to curb the spread of obscene and harmful online content.
A major area of concern, he noted, is the exposure of minors to harmful material. The government is now actively examining the possibility of restricting social media usage by children as a protective measure.
Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne echoed these concerns, stating that reports of adverse internet-related incidents have increased rapidly in recent years. As a result, preliminary discussions have already begun on imposing restrictions aimed at safeguarding children’s mental well-being.
Weeraratne clarified that the responsibility for implementing such restrictions would primarily fall under the Ministry of Mass Media or the Ministry of Education. However, he assured that his ministry is fully prepared to provide the necessary technical support once a policy decision is taken.
These renewed discussions follow several recent incidents involving school students and teachers that have dominated social media discourse. Weeraratne stressed that the viral spread of such content has caused severe damage to the personal lives of those involved and warned against premature disciplinary action without proper fact verification.
“We have not yet reached a final decision. But we as a country must take steps to prevent the damage caused to the psyche of minors through social media,” he said.
He also noted that many countries worldwide have already implemented strict regulations in response to rising cyberbullying and declining mental health among children, adding that Sri Lanka possesses the technical capacity to enforce similar safeguards through telecommunications providers once a clear plan is finalised.
