• Prez Secretariat Legal Director says new P’ment & Cabinet will address concerns & if needed, make apt. decisions 

Following their statement that the current Governments focus will not be on repealing the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act as amended (PTA) but on preventing its misuse (28), the incumbent National People’s Power administration yesterday (29) stated that the Parliament to be elected will make appropriate decisions on the matter, considering the views of the public and other stakeholders.

Several parties including both local and international organisations have been urging the Sri Lankan authorities to repeal the PTA, which is usually referred to as a piece of ‘draconian legislation’.

The Presidential Secretariat Director (Legal), attorney J.M. Wijebandara, speaking to The Daily Morning earlier, noted that the issue lies not in the PTA’s existence but its misuse – the latter scenario where the onus is on political vengeance as opposed to reliable intelligence.

The legal director expressed their stance on the PTA, he told The Daily Morning yesterday (29): "The public and other interested parties on this matter are having their concerns. The Parliament, once elected, and the Cabinet of Ministers will address those concerns and make appropriate decisions as and when needed."

The PTA, introduced in 1979 as a temporary measure, became permanent in 1982. The law has disproportionately affected minorities, allowing prolonged detention without charge and often violating international due process standards. Despite Government assurances to reform the PTA, meaningful changes have not been implemented, rights groups allege. The concerned parties have claimed that the amendments gazetted in January 2021, failed to address key flaws, and that the Act continues to enable arbitrary arrests, unfair trials, and runs the risk of torture due to the admissibility of confessions granted to the Police, the latter which is contrary to the procedure which is normally followed per the Evidence Ordinance.