11 February 2022 08:19 am Views - 167
By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana
The government has proposed to reduce the aggregate period of detention of a person to 12 months from 18 months and other key changes under the Prevention of Terrorism Temporary Provisions Amendment Bill (PTA Amendment Bill) which was presented to Parliament by Minister of Foreign affairs Processor G. L. Peries yesterday.
Clause three of the Bill enables a Magistrate to visit the place of detention of a person to ensure that the suspect is protected to the extent provided for in the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman Degrading Treatment or Punishment Act No 22 of 1994. It also provides provisions for an attorney at law to have access to a person in remand or in detention and to enable a detainee to communicate with his or her relatives.
The PTA Amendment Bill provides provisions to enable a suspect to be produced before a judicial medical officer to ensure that such a person has not been subjected to torture. Section 10 of the legislation provides provisions to grant bail to a person in remand or in detention.
Another feature of the legislation is the allowing of day to day based trials unless the opinion of the court on exceptional circumstances postpone commencement or continuation of the trial.
In response to questions raised by the opposition, Minister Peiris said further amendments to the PTA could be discussed when the legislation is debated in the House.