The government is being criticized for requesting news websites to register by March 31.

All news websites operating in Sri Lanka has to be registered with the Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media enabling them to be operated under recognized ethics and standards without interruption, the Ministry said in a statement.

Web registration not intended to control but to give recognition for web journalists, Deputy Minister Karu Paranawithana said.

However, veteran journalist Nalaka Gunawardene, commenting on Twitter, said that this was a revival of the censorship practiced under Rajapaksa government.

Under what law is the media ministry requiring news websites to be registered?, Gunewardene asked.