Sri Lanka Bans Text Messaging on Independence Day

Following instructions from the government, Sri Lanka's mobile phone networks were ordered to suspend SMS messaging services for 12 hours on Monday - the country's Independence Day. The move was claimed to be to reduce the opportunity for violence or terrorism in the country. There had also been fears of false rumours of terrorist activities could cause panic.

A message sent to Dialog subscribers read: "We regret to inform subscribers that SMS services of all mobile operators will not be available from 6 a.m. to 12 noon on 4th February 2008,"

Security in the country has been raised after Tamil Tiger rebels carried out a suicide bomb attack which killed 12 people and injured over 100 at the main railway station in the capital, Colombo.

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for an independent homeland in an on/off civil war. It is estimated that 68,000 people have died in the war since 1983.

Posted to the site on 4th February 2008