By As the campaign against the prevention of the terrorism act is mounting President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed the Police not to use the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) as a shortcut in charging the accused.
Currently, the amended PTA is to be presented to parliament and the opposition is not satisfied with the amendments.
“The Government has given clear instructions that the irresponsible use of the PTA must stop. Let’s give it a chance and see if it happens or not,” Foreign Minister G L Pieris said.
Peiris had expressed these views at a meeting with representatives of local civil society and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) held at the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
Civil society and NGO representatives expressed strong reservations on the use of the PTA by the Police.
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has called for the abolition of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Human rights watch described the PTA as a legal black hole that has been used for four decades.
