11. Powers and functions of the Commission

The Commission shall have the following powers and functions: -

to issue directives to persons, internet service providers or internet intermediaries, who have published or communicated or whose service has been used to communicate any prohibited statement, requiring them to provide to persons who have been adversely affected by any prohibited statement, an opportunity of responding to such prohibited statement;

to issue notices to persons who communicate prohibited statements, to stop the communication of such statements;

to issue notices to any internet service provider or internet intermediary to disable access to an online location which contains a prohibited statement by the end users in Sri Lanka or to remove such prohibited statement from such online location;

to refer to the appropriate court as provided for in paragraph (3) of Article 105 of the Constitution or any other relevant written law for its consideration any communications that may be in contempt of court or prejudicial to the maintenance of the authority and impartiality of the judiciary, and to provide such assistance as may be required from any court in respect of any matter so referred to such court;

to make recommendations to internet service providers and internet intermediaries to remove prohibited statements;

to maintain an online portal containing information to enlighten the public of the falsity of any statement;

to specify declared online locations in terms of the provisions of this Act, and make recommendations to disable access to the information disseminated through such online location;

to carry out such investigations as may be necessary to exercise and perform the powers and functions of the Commission;

to issue codes of practice by way of rules for internet service providers and internet intermediaries who provide internet based communication services to the end users in Sri Lanka;

to register, in such manner as may be specified by rules made under this Act, the websites providing social media platforms to the end users in Sri Lanka;

to consult, to the extent the Commission considers appropriate, any person or group of persons who or which may be affected, or likely to be affected, in the discharge of its powers and functions;

to advise the Government, as the Commission deems appropriate, on all matters concerning online safety in Sri Lanka, within the purview of this

to acquire and hold property movable and immovable, and to sell, lease, mortgage, exchange, or otherwise dispose of the same;

to enter into such contracts as may be necessary for the exercise, performance and discharge of its powers, duties and functions;

to obtain the assistance of the police in the conduct of any investigation undertaken by the

to appoint, employ and dismiss members of the staff of the Commission and to exercise disciplinary control over such staff; and

generally, to do all such other acts and things as are incidental to or consequential in the exercise, performance and discharge of its powers, duties and functions under this Act.