Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced that the first draft of the new counter terrorism law, which will replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will be out this week. He made this statement while on an official tour to New Zealand, over the weekend. Wickremesinghe had said that the new draft will be available for discussion.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
The announcement comes amidst increasing pressure, both locally and internationally, calling on the government to repeal the PTA.
Incidentally, Wickremesinghe’s announcement also comes just days after several thousand Tamils took to the streets in Jaffna highlighting their grievances and calling on the government to address their issues. At the Jaffna ‘Ezhuga Tamil’ (Rise Tamils) protest march organized Northern Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran, the protestors also demanded the government to repeal the PTA, and to release Tamil detainees.
In June, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka urged the government to ensure that the national security legislation, which is being proposed to replace the PTA, adheres to international human rights standards.
In May, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Juan E. Méndez said that if the government was to replace the PTA with any other legislation, then a robust and transparent national debate should take place that provides for full participation of civil society. The PTAallows for prolonged arbitrary detention without trial, and allows police investigators to use torture and ill-treatment as a routine method of work against suspects. With the help of the PTA, the police use the most brutal forms of torture used to interrogate suspects including; beatings with sticks or wires on the soles of the feet (falanga); suspension for hours while being handcuffed, asphyxiation using plastic bags drenched in kerosene and hanging of the person upside down; application of chili powder to face and eyes; and sexual violations including mutilation of the genital area and rubbing of chili paste or onions on the genital area.
Amarasiri / October 2, 2016
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
“The announcement comes amidst increasing pressure, both locally and internationally, calling on the government to repeal the PTA.”
Even with the PTA, you have not arrested the Terrorist Ganasara of BBS, who are terrorizing the People.
Why?
Will the LTTE Terrorist come back?
Will bodies be disposed of without due process?
Do the People Fear the Govt. or is it the Govt. that fears the People?
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mj / October 2, 2016
For not preventing terrorism…!, most of the leaders of countries should be charged. .
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Patriot / October 2, 2016
At this rate Ranil might give his wife also to the Tamils.
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Native Vedda / October 2, 2016
Patriot pathetic
“At this rate Ranil might give his wife also to the Tamils.”
Are you saying he should first offer her to you?
Are you willing to offer your wife (if you have one) to the highest bidder?
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PROUDMAN / October 3, 2016
Native Vedda
Remember who the patriot is . He is no one else but our hero HLDM… pala
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Lone Wolf / October 3, 2016
Native Vedda,
“Are you saying he should first offer her to you?”
What makes you believe that Dr W allows herself to be offered to others? Do you consider your partner, if any, to be cattle?
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Wife sharing Patriot / October 2, 2016
Looks like Patriot is talking about his own experience in giving wife to others.
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Native Vedda / October 2, 2016
Wife sharing Patriot
“Looks like Patriot is talking about his own experience in giving wife to others.”
I am not so sure about his own experience, what if he hasn’t got a wife or partner? It is likely that he is a loner and enjoys self actualization in private.
In case if he has a partner it is more likely that he is into Kandyan Hospitality and kinky relations.
However it is a private matter between his partner and himself, hence I refrain my comment.
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jim softy / October 3, 2016
dumb native Veddo:
Are you a UNP – Tamil ?
You are pi44ed off when or if Ranil is blamed for anything.
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KA Sumanasekera / October 3, 2016
Dear Native,
I never knew the Kandiyans do kinky things. Pity you refrained from commenting.
That would have been a lot better than reading Yahapalana suckers Hosannas to Batalanada Ranil..
Any way I thought you are a retired teetotaler Srilanka Brahamin, living alone, close to an Ashram and reading Bagawat Geeta, when you get time out attacking poor Dutu Gamunu the 2nd, who saved the Nation from Wiggy’s Hero Pirahaparan.
But unable to save it from Batalanada Ranil and new Ehelepola from Pollonnaruwar.
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Amarasiri / October 2, 2016
Patriot
“At this rate Ranil might give his wife also to the Tamils.”
Then, Ranil will be free of the Pestering by the Tamils and his wife as well. Then the Tamils will screw things up for All the Tamils,just like Maha -Mootal Priyavar Mahaveeran Velupillai Prabarakan did, plus Ranil’s wife as well.
It is not fair for Ranil’s wife.
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Mallaiyuran / October 2, 2016
I thought De Silva, Fernando.. are gone after 1948. It appears Patriot is suggesting Ranil De Silva is well and alive.
Even if the PM gives his wife to Tamils, still the counter offer is lower than the offer of Tamils, whom becuase, have given the wife to EP, the New King.
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Mohamed Marzook / October 3, 2016
What a rubbish is included in this columns.
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KA Sumanasekera / October 3, 2016
[Edited out]
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pacs / October 2, 2016
Will bodies be disposed of without due process?
Will bodies be given respect to show the human dignity? The dignity of those who are disposing the body and the dignity of those body and their relatives.
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punchinilame / October 2, 2016
You have high-lighted a catalouge of torture as practised by the SL Police,
taking advantage of PTA. This draws one to pathetic story: Rani`s Story.[Edited out]
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The Oracle / October 2, 2016
Should’nt such important statements be made in Sri Lanka , rather than during an official tour abroad ?
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Shrikharan / October 3, 2016
The Oracle
“Should’nt such important statements be made in Sri Lanka , rather than during an official tour abroad ? “
Because it is just to keep New Zealand and International community happy. There is no truth about repealing the PTA, just like how My3 promised to have foreign judges while abroad during his early days as President but later backed out.
Still what Ranil said is only a verbal statement and never trust anything until it is done.
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Silva / October 2, 2016
I hope this “New Counter-Terrorism Law” is going to be after real terrorists and not made into a state tool of terror itself spying whistleblowers and on those demanding positive change in the country and those exposing government corruption!!?
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Sinhala Banda / October 2, 2016
Ranil has to fulfill his promises to LTTE driven Tamil Diaspora. So adjust your (readers) radars for further worst decisions of this Machiavellian politician.
That may include; Reducing/slashing the defense budget, Removing Palalay airport from Military controls, Not to prosecute KP, Change the constitution to pave the way for federalism, No questions asked from former LTTE leaders if they invest money in his pet projects.. The list goes on, and he will forget all national priorities to help LTTE rump before 2020.
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Mallaiyuran / October 2, 2016
This guy is No.1 crook.
He went to New Zealand to take care of him. Now he says he has a lot to learn from the crown country New Zealand. He has amnesia Ceylon got out of crown status from commonwealth only to suppress cases mushrooming from Kodeeswaran’s Verdict of Previ Council. He many times visited Singapore; Why didn’t he wants to learn from Singapore, a Unitary Country, which has made Tamil 100% equal to other three languages?
He started with Paranagama Commission and PTA. Then he bought a hate bill, which was rated by Tamil Parliamentarians as more dangerous than PTA which threatened even the Tamil Parliamentarians’ talks in parliament. The he flipped flopped over October 2015 resolution. Then the constitution. Now he is back on PTA. Soon he will be back on Hate speech bill.
This guy is definition of Crook. It is from this guy Sampanthar is getting his secret solution.
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Lone Wolf / October 3, 2016
Malla Boy,
“Why didn’t he wants to learn from Singapore, a Unitary Country,”
Please read about the anti-terrorism laws of SG. Please read about their laws about racial and religious separatism. Heard about Changi prison?
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justice / October 3, 2016
Cases against many prisoners of the group now in detention under the existing PTA since the end of the war, have been filed in three courts in the north and south, thus defeating the very purpose of swift justice to persons charged of offences by the state.
Will the new ‘edition’ of PTA prevent this?
Will there also be a new version of “rehabilitation” – a ‘punishment’ which exists only in Sri Lanka?
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jim softy / October 3, 2016
Ranil wickramnsinghe is not a leader, he is just a follower. IN this case, he has followed what the West wants.
His budget is what the IMF wants. His what ever this bill is what the west wants.
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Lone Wolf / October 3, 2016
Ranil,
“Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced that the first draft of the new counter terrorism law, which will replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will be out this week.”
One promise will be kept but I am sure that the Counter Terrorism Law will give any government enough powers to fight what they consider terrorism.
All the countries have some kind of PTA.
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KA Sumanasekera / October 3, 2016
“Arise Tigers” leader Vellala Wigneswaran is going to be the first elected leader of the first Federal Tamil Eelaam in Srilanka.
Batalanada Ranil’s running partner the Vellala Party TNA is split , with TNA MP for Jaffna, Sridaran already sucking up to Wigeswaran, big time.
And praising, endorsing and even promoting Wiggy’s demand for a second referendum in the North, soon after it goes Federal in the first Batalanada Bodhi Sira Referendum, which seems to coming to town as early as before the next Sinhala New Year.
Sridaran’s says the Tamil inhabitants are the ones who should decide whether they want to share their Federal Eelaam with the Sinhalese.
Even with the PTA in place,Vellala Sridaran and his ex Boss Vellala Sambandan forced their way in to the Killinochchi Camp, and flexed their muscles.
With Batalanada expunging the PTA it will won’t be all hunky dory in the North,
Like the Mahavamsa Field Marshall’s current para military dudes did During the Tiger War, our brave soldiers who are in the North should dessert the Army now and come to their homes in the South.
Because Batalanada Ranil or Bodhi Sira is going to upset the Bedouin Prince , the US Embassy and the UK High Commission if the Arise Tigers pick on the Soldiers, after Batalanada demolishes the PTA.
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Lester / October 4, 2016
Ranil doesn’t care about human rights. He wants FDI from the West. I suspect, agreeing to the Geneva Resolution was also his idea. We still have Mahinda in the Opposition, so it’s okay. Ranil will make a show, Eelamists and Islamists will not get anything.
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Sirisena Yatawara / October 4, 2016
By repeal Prevention of Terrorism Act is by destroy Democracy that UNP’s new ruling “governances”.
Is that UNP want encourage and promoted Terrorism or Democracy?
Govt’. of that UNP-new leader of MS-President and UNP-old leader Primer -Ranil.Wwwww and CBK of New Federalist want by secretly help to Tamil Terrorism?
Why they repeal PTA by immediate effect by UNP leader?
Result of that Sri lanka and its society will become disorder and created uncertainties of democracy norms ever sphere of life of People.
Leads to New Tamil Terrorist WAR !!!!!!!!Sri lanka?
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