The Sri Lankan government has been considering a bill regulating online news content, reported Daily Mirror. The government, however, claimed the act would be used to prevent “fake news” on the internet. 

The report claimed that the Sri Lankan cabinet is discussing a fake news control bill. Ali Sabry, the justice minister of the island nation, said that the "freedom of expression can’t be abused." 

He also mentioned that Singapore, too, has the Prevention of Online Falsehood and Manipulation Act. India and Malaysia, he claimed, both have laws to control the spread of fake news. The minister revealed the information while he was speaking at an online media event on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill. 

“The new online laws in Sri Lanka will ensure national security and unity among communities and public privacy are protected and disinformation on development programs is discouraged” Sabry was quoted as saying by Daily Mirror. 

Some people get away easily after spreading fake news, he claimed. He further added more than 15 percent of social media profiles in the country are fake. 

On the port city bill which recently ran into controversy, the minister said, a massive disinformation campaign is going on against the proposed bill. The Supreme Court is currently hearing a slew of petitions, challenging the validity of the proposed bill.