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US adopts domestic anti-terrorism law similar to PTA, says ex-State Dept. employee
by Shamindra Ferdinando
One-time US State Department employee Daya Gamage says the January 6 attack on the Capitol has prompted the US to adopt a bipartisan Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (DTPA) of 2021 to investigate acts of domestic terrorism.
The retired political specialist pointed out how swiftly the US acted after the US Department of Justice indicated the need for domestic anti-terrorism law in the wake of the January 6 Capitol attack. Gamage saw the similarity of the US response legislation to Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) introduced by the then President J.R. Jayewardene at the onset of his first term.
The US media, in late January 2021, quoted US Rep Fred Upton as having said: “The attack on the U.S. Capitol earlier this month was the latest example of domestic terrorism, but the threat of domestic terrorism remains very real. We cannot turn a blind eye to it. The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act will equip our law enforcement leaders with the tools needed to help keep our homes, families, and communities across the country safe.”
Media widely alleged that right-wing extremists had been among a mob of supporters of the then President Donald Trump, who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. They interrupted the formal congressional certification of President Joe Biden’s election victory.
Author of ‘Tamil Tigers’ Debt to America’, Gamage said that the US move to have its own domestic terrorism law to neutralize threat of domestic terrorism should be examined against the backdrop of the US and its allies pushing Sri Lanka to do away with the PTA. The government, especially the relevant ministries should be mindful of the US response to the Capitol attack, Gamage said, expressing concern at the failure on the part of those responsible to take notice of the unprecedented development.
In the absence of a domestic terrorism law the U.S. cannot proscribe internal anarchists though it can ban foreign groups. The LTTE is one such group proscribed by the US in 1997. Experts are of the view domestic terrorism law would facilitate nationwide search warrants, expanded law-enforcement access to tax and educational records, and harsher sentencing.
According to documents available with The Island, the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a letter dated Sept 20, 2016 informed the cabinet of the appointment of a committee to replace the PTA with a new Counter Terrorism Law. Premier Wickremesinghe said that he wanted the new law to be in full agreement with international human rights obligations while providing sufficient capacity to deal with terrorism here. Another document revealed how Premier Wickremesinghe chaired a Temple Trees meeting on Dec 16, 2016 attended by Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake, British HC James Dauris, French Amb Jean-Marin Schuh, EU delegation Chief Tung-Lai Margue et al to discuss the new law.
Authoritative government sources told The Island in spite of the change of government a section of the international community was pushing Sri Lanka hard to repeal the PTA. The ongoing dialogue between Sri Lanka and the EU covered the contentious issue of introducing a new Counter Terrorism Law. Sources pointed out how the previous UNP-led administration tried to justify the introduction of a new Counter Terrorism Law due to their own failure to thwart 2019 Easter Sunday carnage. The then Premier’s Office vigorously campaigned for the repealing of the PTA. The UNP propagated that a new Counter Terrorism Law was required to thwart international terrorist groups targeting Sri Lanka. This assessment was made on the basis the ISIS carried out the Easter Sunday attacks under the existing PTA.
Dr. Wasantha Bandara of the Federation of National Organization (FNO) yesterday told The Island that the way the US handled the perceived domestic terrorist threat was a lesson to Sri Lanka. They acted in unison regardless of political differences though in Sri Lanka those in power and the Opposition could never agree on matters of national security. The Easter Sunday carnage underscored the continuing threat posed by terrorism and the need to be ever vigilant to face any eventuality.
Dr. Bandara pointed out that those allegedly involved in the Easter Sunday carnage were arrested in terms of the PTA. Among the arrested were lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah whose detention was taken up in Geneva by the Core Group on Sri Lanka bent on punishing the country on the basis of unsubstantiated war crimes accusations.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
