24. Applying for a court order to prevent circulation of prohibited statements

the name of the person who is required to stop communication of the prohibited statement with immediate effect; and

any other order as the Magistrate deems fit.

The order made under subsection (2) shall be deemed to be served, where it is served by personal service, sent by post to the last known address of such person, or served by electronic means to such person, or by such other appropriate method ordered by the Magistrate depending on the nature of the case.

The order made under subsection (2) shall be deemed to be served by electronic means where such order is sent to such person’s email address or social media account, or internet service provider or internet intermediary on whose online location such prohibited statement has been communicated.

Where such person appears before the Magistrate in terms of subsection (6), to show cause by way of petition and affidavit, the Magistrate shall hold an inquiry which shall be concluded within two weeks of the date of commencement of the inquiry.

The Magistrate may, having regard to the facts stated by the person against whom the conditional order is made under subsection (2), either move to have the order set aside or modified, if the Magistrate is satisfied that the order made under this section is not reasonable and proper, and make an appropriate order subject to the provisions of this Act.

If the Magistrate is not so satisfied, the order made under subsection (2) shall be made absolute.

Where the order under subsection (2) is modified under paragraph (b), such order shall be made absolute.

disable access by end users in Sri Lanka to the online location containing such communication of the prohibited statement in Sri Lanka; or

remove the relevant communication of the prohibited statement in Sri Lanka from the online location containing such communication.