Facebook icon
Twitter icon
e-mail icon

Sri Lanka govt attempting to replace PTA in time for UN Human Rights Council

The Sri Lankan government is attempting to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act in time for the start of the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, the Sunday Times reports.

The final draft was given to the cabinet for approval last Wednesday by the Foreign Minister, Tilak Marapana, and gave rise to objections from the housing minister Sajith Premadasa.

The foreign minister reportedly said that it would be imprudent to stop the new counter terror legislation passing into law so close to the upcoming human rights council session.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have said that the draft would have to be presented to Parliament and passed as delaying it would affect the restoration of the European Union’s GSP plus trade concession.

We need your support

Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.

Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view

We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.

For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.