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As enacted
Contents

Part I · Establishment of the Online Safety Commission

7. Resignation, removal and term of office of members of the Commission

Official English translation. The Sinhala text prevails.

(1)

A member of the Commission may resign from office by letter in that behalf addressed to the President, and such resignation shall take effect from the date on which the resignation is accepted in writing by the President.

(2)

A member of the Commission may be removed from his office by the President, subject to the approval of the

Constitutional Council following a hearing of the relevant member where such person–

(a)

is unable to exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of such office because of an infirmity of body or mind that has lasted for more than a period of three months;

(b)

has failed to exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties and functions of such office for a cosecutive period of more than three months without the approval of the Commission; or

(c)

is disqualified in terms of the provisions of section 6.

(3)

Any hearing under subsection (2) shall be concluded within three months from the date of commencement of such hearing.

(4)

Upon the receipt of the approval of the Constitutional

Council, the President shall, in writing, remove such member of the Commission, and shall state in the letter of removal-

(a)

the date on which the removal shall take effect which shall not be a date earlier than the date on which the letter of removal is received; and

(b)

the reasons for the removal.

(5)

Any member of the Commission may be suspended from the office by the President prior to the commencement of the hearing or during the course of the hearing under subsection (2).

(6)

The term of office of a member of the Commission shall be three years from the date of appointment.

(7)

Where a member of the Commission vacates office by death, resignation or other cause, the President shall appoint, having regard to the provisions of sections 5 and 6, another eligible person in such member’s place, and the person so appointed shall hold office for the unexpired period of the term of office of the member whom such person succeeds.

(8)

A member of the Commission whose term of office is due to end otherwise than by removal, shall be eligible for reappointment for not more than one further term of office, whether consecutive or otherwise.

(9)

Members of the Commission shall be paid such remuneration as may be determined by a resolution of

Parliament and such remuneration shall be charged to the

Fund of the Commission.

Part II

Powers and Functions of the Commission

Part III

Prohibition of Online Communication of False Statements

Part IV

Measures Against Online Communication of Prohibited Statements in Sri Lanka

Part V

Declared Online Locations

Part VI

Counteracting Inauthentic Online Accounts and Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour

Part VII

Appointment of Experts to Assist Investigations and Their Powers

Part VIII

Finance

Part IX

General

Schedules