August 20, Colombo (LNW): The Attorney General has appealed a Colombo High Court ruling that found charges brought under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) against alleged drug trafficker ‘Harak Kata’ and several other accused could not be sustained.
The development was disclosed to Colombo High Court Judge Buddhika C. Ragala when the case was taken up for hearing today (20).
A State Counsel representing the prosecution informed court that the Attorney General had formally challenged the earlier determination through an appeal.
The appeal seeks to overturn the decision concerning whether the PTA provisions cited in the indictment can lawfully be maintained against the defendants.
The latest move by the Attorney General comes after the Colombo High Court recently ruled that the terrorism-related charges filed against ‘Harak Kata’ and the other accused could not proceed in their existing form.
The appeal now places the disputed legal issue before a higher judicial forum, where the validity of continuing the PTA proceedings is expected to be considered further.
