Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
University student detained over critical Facebook posts targeting government
Police in Kobeigane have arrested a 21-year-old undergraduate student on suspicion of posting hate speech on social media. The student, who attends the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Ruhuna, allegedly used Facebook to criticise senior government figures.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Kobeigane police confirmed the arrest of the university student, whose posts on Facebook were reported to have contained criticism directed at the President, Prime Minister, and government officials. The suspect, a resident of the Kobeigane area, was taken into custody following an investigation into the social media activity.
The student is enrolled at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Ruhuna. Police classified the online posts as hate speech, triggering the detention and subsequent investigation into the matter.
The arrest comes amid broader concerns regarding the boundaries of free expression and online speech in the country. The case highlights ongoing tensions between authorities and citizens regarding criticism expressed through social media platforms.
Investigations into the matter remain ongoing, with police continuing to examine the nature and content of the posts in question.