HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA, Annual Report 2018 Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act, No. 56 of 2007 (the provision against hate speech). ▪ Restrictions on social media to deal with hate speech The Commission, by letter dated 15 March 2018, addressed to the Chairman of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRCSL), positively noted that the TRCSL was in the process of activating certain social media platforms which it deactivated in the aftermath of the violence against the Muslim community in Digana, Kandy. HRCSL pointed out in the letter that any future policy regarding the regulation of social media to deal with hate speech must strike that necessary balance so that the freedom of expression and the right to information are restricted only within the legal limits permitted by the Constitution and Sri Lanka’s international human rights obligations in the larger public interest. The Commission also reiterated the urgent need to take legal action against those who use social media to propagate communal hatred and incite sectarian violence. ▪ Guidelines for police officers and directives pertaining to activities of public officers and officers of the provincial public service in connection with the Local Authority Election 2018 Taking into consideration the right of every citizen to vote, to freely engage in political activities, and the right to free and fair elections under the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the HRCSL issued guidelines to be observed by all police officers during the run-up to the election, on the day of the election, and the period immediately following the election. The Commission monitored compliance with these guidelines issued under powers vested in the Commission under the Act of the Commission. The Commission also issued directives to public officers in relation to the Local Authority Election to ensure that the election is conducted freely and fairly. The Directives emphasized that the nonimplementation of the law and the abuse of authority including the use 33