Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
Govt. mulls review of PTA - AG
The government was mulling the possibility of reviewing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) along with all other emergency regulations, Attorney General Mohan Peiris said
Mr. Perera told Daily Mirror that the government was yet to take any final decision in this regard.
“It is under consideration. Nothing has been finalized yet. We are looking at what are the clauses of emergency regulations that can be done away with or retained further,” he said.
Asked about the PTA, he said, “All the emergency regulations including the PTA are under consideration.”
The PTA was introduced in 1978 as a temporary provision, and it was extended in Parliament for every six months’ period. However, in 1982, it was made a permanent law removing the need for extension at regular periods. It was a piece of legislation introduced with laws and regulations to proscribe the LTTE and other similar organizations.
The government continued to use it in the arrest of those involved in terrorism or aided and abetted it.
Besides, the government reintroduced the state of emergency in 2005 following to the assassination of then Foreign Affairs Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. Since then, it had been extended every month in Parliament. Yet, in May last year, the government scaled down some of the clauses of the emergency regulations.
During the war time, only the TNA opposed the extension of emergency. However, after the end of the war, the UNP and the JVP have also voted against it.
The government of India also requested on May 16, 2011 to do away with the state of Emergency. (KB)
Comments - 24
Recommended
You May Also Like
