Bus union chief victim on Information Superhighway
Tuesday 18th August, 2026 President of the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association Gemunu Wijeratne has lodged a complaint with the CID over an alleged online smear campaign against him. He says he has become the target of a social media vilification campaign since he made some critical remarks about the metro bus service. Defamation cannot […]
President of the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association, Gemunu Wijeratne, has filed a complaint with the CID regarding an alleged online smear campaign against him. This campaign began after Wijeratne made critical remarks about the metro bus service. The president emphasized that defamation is unacceptable and urged social media platforms and the police to intervene in protecting his interests.
However, he also pointed out that private bus operators must take responsibility for treating commuters poorly. Wijeratne and his fellow bus drivers should examine the industry’s shortcomings rather than focusing on online attacks. Private buses are considered a "black hole" for passenger rights, with inadequate protection for human rights compared to the treatment of animals in the cattle transport industry.
Truckers transporting cattle face legal consequences, while bus drivers operating overcrowded vehicles often escape scrutiny. Some bus drivers are allegedly actively working to undermine the popular metro bus service. The private bus industry is notorious for disrupting road traffic, as drivers race each other, causing congestion for all vehicles.
It is crucial that private bus drivers adhere to the Highway Code, and the police should take action to enforce this. The media has long warned about the link between drug addiction and reckless bus driving, and recent testing campaigns have found that about 80% of private bus drivers in Colombo and its suburbs are addicted to drugs.
In 2024, State Minister for Transport Dilum Amunugama revealed that around 50% of private bus drivers nationwide were addicted to drugs, with many progressing from cannabis to ICE. A recent raid at the Bastian Mawatha private bus terminal in Colombo uncovered that nearly 18% of drivers and conductors were under the influence of narcotic drugs.
Similar inspections in other locations resulted in the arrest of several drivers and conductors for drug possession. Private bus operators must address this serious issue to ensure passenger safety. While nobody should insult Wijeratne or anyone else, bus owners must take steps to safeguard passengers while addressing the violation of their rights.
Recent complaints about online defamation campaigns have reignited discussions about the need for specific legal remedies for severe online harassment. The Online Safety Act of 2024, with its draconian provisions, is not being enforced due to concerns about its impact. It is essential to differentiate between legitimate criticism and malicious conduct that causes serious harm, such as coordinated harassment, threats, impersonation, doxxing, hate speech, and "pile-ons."
The 2024 Online Safety Act should be left unenforced due to its overly broad provisions. A clear distinction must be made between legitimate criticism and malicious online activities. Legal experts suggest that the Penal Code can be applied to some online issues, including falsehoods, impersonation, incitement, and offensive statements.
Sri Lanka can learn from other countries' approaches to handling these problems. Any new law should include provisions for judicial review, the right of appeal, protection for journalists and whistle-blowers, clear definitions, transparency requirements, and penalties for malicious complaints. The goal is to prevent the emergence of a situation similar to the Orwellian Big Brother, with politicians attempting to control freedom of expression under the guise of online safety.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
