Leave out in the cold to protect the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka in the digital era: A legal analysis

Abstract

As technological advances, domestic laws must adapt to accommodate the newest form of identification. According to Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Sri Lanka is a party, everyone has the right to freedom of expression. As per the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19, every individual is entitled to the liberty of expressing themselves. The freedom of expression is guaranteed to Sri Lankans by Article 14(1)(a) of the 1978 Constitution. It has also brought restrictions on the use of rights at the same time. At the same time, it has introduced limitations on the exercise of rights. This study examines Sri Lanka's legal framework for freedom of expression, focusing on the context of the threat to Freedom of Expression in Sri Lanka with the development of Digital Transformation and Artificial intelligence. The study highlights recent restrictions imposed by the Sri Lankan government due to economic crises and public protests. The research employs the black letter approach as a research methodology. Further, this study tries to analyse the constitutional and statutory provisions with the judicial pronouncements of Sri Lanka in the context of the right to freedom of expression with the development of artificial intelligence technologies