The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) is advocating for the complete abolition of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) despite the amendments suggested by the government.
In a statement, the HRCSL emphasised that the offence of terrorism should be included in the Penal Code a new definition of terrorism, which should be explicitly for those who threaten or use violence unlawfully to target the civilian population by spreading fear thereof to further a political-ideological or religious cause.
Terrorism should be investigated under the General Law of the country with necessary amendments, it added.
The HRCSL also supports that it is not required to exclude the application of the Evidence Ordinance for the offence of terrorism, adding that the indefinite period of detention violates the Constitution, citing “Deprivation of liberty of a person pending investigation or trial shall not constitute punishment of Article 13(4).”
Amendments to the Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure Code, Judicature Act and the Bail Act require modifications for this purpose, the Commission went on, pointing out that it recommends these amendments under section 10(d) of the HRCSL Act to be placed before a Parliamentary Select Committee.
MIAP
