- EC discusses issue with TRCSL, seeks action
- 2018 regulations to be updated
- Notes that mobile nos. can be sourced from many avenues
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has called for explanations from telecommunication service providers regarding promotional text messages being sent by candidates contesting in the Parliamentary General Election scheduled for tomorrow (14), it is learnt.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has held discussions with the regulator (TRCSL) and requested that it inquire into the matter.
Mobile phone users have voiced criticism over the promotional text messages sent to the public over the past few days as part of election campaigns by several Parliamentary Election candidates. Both the Election Commission (EC) and the TRCSL have focused attention on the matter.
When contacted by The Daily Morning, a senior official from the TRCSL said that the TRCSL called for explanations from service providers on the issue, and that further actions would be taken accordingly.
When queried regarding the allegation levelled by the public that it is the service providers that have provided mobile numbers to external parties, the senior official said: “The service providers never do it. There can be many other avenues of finding mobile numbers for promotional messages to be sent. How many parties do we share our mobile numbers with, on a daily basis? However, this is being looked into.”
She also said that they were currently in the process of updating a series of regulations introduced in 2018 concerning promotional text messages. “We introduced a set of regulations to service providers regarding promotional text messages in 2018. As it is apparent that those regulations are not strong enough, we are in the process of gazetting more strong regulations. When that is done, people will not be inconvenienced.”
Speaking to The Daily Morning, EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that sending such promotional text messages was wrong, and that the EC had held a discussion with the TRCSL on the issue. “Even I have been receiving these messages. This is completely wrong. We informed the TRCSL to find out where this started from and to take appropriate action. We also discussed this with the TRCSL. They said that there were certain difficulties in stopping this. However, action will be taken on this matter,” he noted.
Promotional text messages are brief, targeted messages sent to mobile users to promote products, services, events, or campaigns. In election contexts, these messages inform voters about candidates, their policies, or give voting-related reminders, aiming to engage and influence the public quickly and directly.