• Says steps taken  to release the remaining LTTE detainees

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera 

Sri Lanka was working towards fulfilling the pledges made to the UNHRC where steps were being taken to release the remaining LTTE detainees and scrapping of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was in the final stage, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said yesterday. 

He told Parliament that President Ranil Wickremesinghe had given the required guidance to release LTTE detainees.

Responding to a question by Parliamentarian G.L. Peiris, the Prime Minister said the government had taken necessary steps to fulfil the pledges to the UNHRC.
“Then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa released a larger number of LTTE detainees. President Ranil Wickremesinghe has also given the necessary guidance to release the remaining detainees. The draft bill to scrap the PTA has been approved by the Cabinet. It will be presented in the Cabinet soon,” he said.

Prof. Peiris said the government has had to face resolution at the UNHRC as Sri Lanka failed to fulfil its pledges.

The MP said it was a matter of concern that Sri Lanka has failed to garner the support of even Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Asian countries Like Malaysia and Indonesia.
The Prime Minister said Sri Lanka was not isolated and that some countries had abstained from voting due to their international and domestic policies.
“Their decision at the UNHRC will not affect trade, aid or any other matter concerning Sri Lanka,” he said.