The cabinet has given approval for a
revision to the penal code to make hate speech a punishable offence,
said cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne.On a proposal by justice minister Wijedasa Rajapakse, the revision will be tabled for parliamentary approval, he said.
Once included in the penal code, hate speech and literature relating to ethnicity and religion that exacerbate ethnic and religious tensions will carry a punishment of a two year prison term.
