Sri Lanka Railways has issued a circular restricting employees' use of social media during duty hours and the publication of sensitive information concerning railway operations.
The Department says the measure follows instances in which officials and employees allegedly disclosed sensitive operational information through social media while working or in connection with their official duties. (Sri Lanka Mirror, Newsfirst)
What does the circular restrict?
According to reports based on the circular, officials and employees are prohibited from publishing information concerning railway operations, internal decisions or official documents through social media from locations including train-control rooms, engine-control rooms, workshops and other railway premises. (Newsfirst)
The circular also addresses social-media use during working hours.
Who can provide official information?
The circular identifies three authorized channels for providing official railway information to external parties or the media:
- the General Manager of Railways;
- the official Railway spokesperson;
- the Information Officer.
Other employees are therefore not authorized under the circular to independently release official departmental information externally. (Sri Lanka Mirror)
Why does Railways say the restrictions are necessary?
The Department says disclosure of sensitive operational information could affect:
- passenger safety;
- institutional discipline;
- the credibility of the railway service.
The circular reportedly warns that violations may result in disciplinary or legal action. (Sri Lanka Mirror)
What the circular does - and does not establish
The restrictions should be reported precisely.
There is an important distinction between:
personal social-media use during duty hours
and
disclosure of sensitive or official railway information.
The existence of the circular does not by itself establish that every form of social-media activity by a railway employee outside working hours is prohibited.
Similarly, the circular should not be characterized more broadly than its actual terms without examining the complete document.
The immediate confirmed development is that Sri Lanka Railways has tightened rules governing social-media activity during duty hours and the release of operational and official information.
Key facts
- Institution: Sri Lanka Railways
- Instrument: Departmental circular
- Main issues: Social-media use during duty hours and disclosure of sensitive operational information
- Authorized official-information channels: General Manager, official spokesperson and Information Officer
- Possible consequence: Disciplinary/legal action for violations