Opposition must make commitment to abrogate repressive laws: Purawesi Balaya

By Ariyaratna Ranabahu

Purawesi Balaya, one of the leading civil society movements yesterday called on all Opposition parties to make a commitment before the people to abrogate all repressive laws such as the Online Safety Act and the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act, in the event they come to power at the next election.

   
The co-convener of the organization Gamini Viyangoda stressed at a media briefing at the Sri Lanka Press Institute in Colombo that people should defeat all efforts by the incumbent President to consolidate his powers by introducing more and more draconian laws to the executive Presidency that was brought in by former President J. R. Jayewardene.   
He stated that the President has forgotten the lesson that was learnt through the recent Aragalaya which shook the political structure in a manner that the then President had to flee the country.   

Commenting on the arrest of former minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Viyangoda warned the people not to mix his arrest with the conviction which is yet to be decided by the court, as they are two different things. 

 
He stated that the government is always very particular in preventing the expression of public opinion and they have now resorted to scuttle the usage of social media by the people which is evident now to be going against the ruling class.   

Speaking at the event President’s Counsel Jayapathy Wikramaratna said that the purpose of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill which has an overbroad definition of terrorism was nothing but to proscribe all trade union actions in order for the ruling elite to run the affairs of the country as they wish.