Issuing a statement “DecentLanka2015” says that “Policy and legal framework of the proposed Counter Terrorism Act of Sri Lanka is meant to replace the much criticised and denounced Prevention of Terrorism Act (ACT) that infringes on basic human rights of the people, a collective of professionals”
It further says that “With this draft ‘Counter Terrorism Act’, Sirisena-Wickramasinghe coalition government seems to be unduly using the opportunity provided by the UN OISL Resolution 30/1 co-sponsored with the US in 2015 October. The new piece of law if adopted could give them occasion to crush any dissent, any opposition, labelling all as ‘terrorism’”
‘With this draft ‘Counter Terrorism Act’, Sirisena-Wickramasinghe coalition government seems to be unduly using the opportunity provided by the UN OISL Resolution 30/1 co-sponsored with the US in 2015 October. The new piece of law if adopted could give them occasion to crush any dissent, any opposition, labelling all as ‘terrorism’.”
“Most provisions clearly contradict Chapter III, Constitution 14 of the present Constitution that guarantee “freedom of expression” as a fundamental right. All of it taken in the context of President Sirisena’s assumption of selective justice declared publicly (controversial statement made at SLFI on 12 Oct.) makes a mockery of law enforcement, where democracy and rule of law would fall victim to dictatorial diktats of those abusing power.”
“We therefore stand firmly convinced, this piece of draft law is far worse than the PTA it is meant to replace. The proposed draft should not be gazetted and brought to parliament as it stands. We demand it be dropped forthwith completely and a new piece of law be drafted to replace the PTA. And that draft to be opened for public consultations before it goes through the legal process of becoming law.”
Read the statement as a PDFdecent-lanka-2015-statement
Read the draft Counter terrorism Act of Sri Lanka in full as a PDF:sri-lanka-leaked-copy-of-draft-legal-framework-for-new-counter-terrorism-law