'Websites, not meant to defame people'

Jayantha DE SILVA

Restrictions on websites are necessary in some instances as freedom to express opinions is not in any way meant to defame people, said Jayampathy Wickremeratne PC.

He said Human Rights reviewed by the International community every four years, are common standards applied for all mankind. He said the West adopts double standards in respect of Human Rights. "Although Human Rights belong to humanity, it is still viewed as the exclusive preserve of the West," he said.

Wickremeratne was delivering the Prof Nandadasa Kodagoda Memorial Oration at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on Thursday.

Wickremaratne added that civil and political rights are not the luxury of the rich.

"Universal Declaration of Human Rights is recognized by the UN.However modern Human Rights are not well understood despite the constitution providing protection for Human Rights," he said.

He said the Bill of Rights which he assisted in drafting has been gathering dust for three years.

Wickremeratne was of the view that a challenge is ahead of the country to work towards an indigenous Human Hights charter.