On 3 April 2022, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) announced that service providers had blocked social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube due to a request from the Ministry of Defence.[52] Oshada Senanayake, the Chairman of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka, tendered his resignation amidst the social media blackout, stating that he was standing by his ethos and principles.[53] The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) requested the TRC and service providers to immediately restore all social media platforms immediately as they are unable to inform consumers about impending power cuts as electricity has been declared an essential service.[54] The internet access was restored 15 hours after it was imposed.[55]