Sajith comes down hard on PTA

SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that the amendments proposed by the government to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) would not help remedy the existing shortcomings in the law.

Participating in the second reading stage debate on the PTA (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill, Premadasa said that the provisions included in the amendments did not address the shortcomings in the PTA.

Premadasa reiterated his party’s stance that the PTA was “draconian and out-dated” and must be repealed.

The PTA had led to the denial of basic human rights because it provided for prolonged detention without trial, denial of bail as well as the admissibility of confessions made to a police officer as evidence, Premadasa said. “The PTA has failed to prevent terrorism, and it has been used to persecute political opponents, journalists, Human Rights activists and even lawyers; none of whom pose any threat to national security.”

“The PTA is also an insult to an independent judiciary. Consider the root causes of terrorism: discrimination, exploitation, exclusion from development and a lack of political empowerment. We must achieve national security through brotherhood, harmony and by eradicating discrimination and racism,” Premadasa said.

(SI)