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Zuhair alleges proposed anti-Terror Act more draconian than PTA
Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador to Iran M.M. Zuhair, PC has warned that the proposed Counter Terrorism Act could be utilised by the government to crush even farmers’ protests.
The following is the text of a statement issued by the ex-Senior State Counsel and former People’s Alliance MP: The Counter Terrorism Bill, originally gazetted six years ago, on 17th September 2017, and then abandoned due to strong public criticism, has been re-gazetted on Friday 15th September 2023, re-named ‘Anti-Terrorism’ Bill, with some insignificant amendments, with provisions more draconian than in the controversial Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No 48 of 1979 (PTA).
A debt stricken Sri Lanka is now being displayed to the world as wanting to counter foreign investments, tourism, exports, etc., by declaring to the world that Sri Lanka is badly in need of more serious terror laws to confront future ‘aragalayas’, the troubling ‘media’, the ‘terrorist’ Muslims’, the ‘impossible diaspora’ and the ‘insubordinate’ Church,a formidable list of current and future terrorists!
Terrorism is loosely defined and broadened without boundaries in section 3 of the bill. Section 2 of the PTA, currently in operation, had 10 accurately defined offences, restricted as against the offences in the Penal Code, to causing the death of, attacks on or criminal intimidation of ‘specified persons’ listed in the Act and ‘witnesses’ to offences under the PTA; kidnapping or abduction of witnesses; robbery or mischief of State property, illegal import of arms or ammunition, harbouring PTA offenders, etc.
Significantly the re-gazetted Anti-Terrorism Bill in section 3(1), creating the offence of terrorism has not limited ‘terrorism’ to any “illegal” act but vaguely extends to “any act” or “illegal omissions”. Furthermore unlike in the PTA, section 3(1)(a) of the Bill is overbroad in that the phrase “criminal intimidation” of “any specified person or a witness” have been dropped and the phrase “intimidating the public or a section of the public” have been brought in, unduly and vaguely broadening the category.
A legitimate protest march by farmers for instance demanding fertiliser could end up with the leaders of the protest march being arrested for ‘intimidating a section of the public’ and “causing hurt” under section 3(2) to an undefined person in the protest march! PTA had provided for causing ‘grievous hurt’ to a specified person or witness. But this Bill has broadened the category into causing simple ‘hurt’ as an act of terrorism! The new law can step in to lock up the protest leaders for at least a year, with the State having only to allege ‘intimidation and causing simple hurt’!
Section 3(1)(b) of the Bill is more draconian! PTA did not have any offence that related to the ‘Government’ per se, meaning the President, the Cabinet of Ministers and the rest of the executive. But the Bill has included the commission of “an act” “wrongfully or unlawfully compelling the Government of Sri Lanka or any other Government or an international organisation to do or to abstain from doing any act” as committing the offence of terrorism!
If for instance, India drops “parippu” or its armed forces enters North-East Sri Lanka whether by force or by coercing or intimidating the government of Sri Lanka into wrongfully and unlawfully agreeing to allow the Indian forces to enter and remain therein as it happened in 1987, then Sri Lankans launching any protest against the invasion of one’s country, could be locked up as ‘terrorists’ under the proposed law!
Remember the George Bush and Tony Blair invasion of Iraq in March 2003 alleging falsely that Saddam Hussain possessed ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction! It is more likely this provision will also facilitate the unsolicited entry of US forces into Sri Lanka, under the pretext of containing China, once the Russian-NATO war in Ukraine is over before the end 2025! All signals are in place for such an occurrence, a view that cannot be expressed once this Bill becomes law!
There are in the Bill many more draconian provisions, which instead of regulating the security apparatus, seek to over-empower them at the cost of the liberty of the subject.
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
