Lending mobile phones to friends soon to be illegal in Sri Lanka
By Dusan Belic on Monday, August 4th, 2008 at 1:07 AM PST In General
Sri Lanka’s government has some weird ideas. Back in February, we saw them blocking SMS on independence day and now they want to ban mobile phone lending. The idea behind the move is to fight terrorism, “to avert irregularities and illegal activities while minimizing threats to national security created by the irresponsible use of telephones.”
The proposal, which came from the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRC), would also require people to carry a certificate of ownership at all times. In addition, mobile phone retailers will have to obtain a trading license and secure the legitimate source of all handsets they offer for sale.
Existing subscribers would be told about the new guidelines with their next monthly bill and the system would be effective the following month. Fixed wireless CDMA handsets will also be affected by the law and people will be limited to use them at their registered address, only.
As far as I see it, the new law limits freedom, it’s weird, and I’m totally against it, though, I’m not fully aware about Sri Lanka’s local conditions. I’m sure there are some other, not that intrusive ways to fight terrorism… Any thoughts?
[Via: Cellular-News]
I don’t see any single reason as justifiable to wear collars on own citizen’s :-/ it is all about getting power and boosting own ego at now-matured excuse of counter-terrorism: some little dicks want to be Big Brother
Dusan, I’m a Sri Lankan and not only you, but we also see them as weird and Sri Lanka isn’t any Muslim nation and thus, Sri Lanka’s local cultural condition is also as same as where you are too.
But, the worst thing is that now they’ve BANNED GPS ENABLED PHONES TOO !
I’m afraid to post this, the government is hitler-like and I might even get killed (or arrested easily). But, I’ve gotta ask you guys for help.
Join the Facebook group against this ban,
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21650089821
…this is insane. How can the government do things like this? First GPS phones, and now this? What’s next…they don’t allow you to drive anyone in a car that isn’t part of your family because they could be connected to terrorism!?
@K Flyer: Oh come on, you can’t post for fear the government will kill you? Dude, have you even been to Sri Lanka? I live in Sri Lanka (born and raised) and I don’t know of such local conditions. And Sri Lanka certainly isn’t like the US.
Yes, they are apparently trying to pass the law and it’s idiotic. But at the same time, I have a feeling that the objective is more economic control (and of course, a power trip) rather than any effort to curb terrorism. The Sri Lankan government is no exception when it comes to using “the war” as a bogeyman