The Chairman of the Karaitheevu Pradeshiya Sabha, S. Baskaran, has warned that the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTB) proposed by the Sri Lankan government could prove harmful to the general public and pose a threat to social activists.
Addressing a council session convened this week, Baskaran said that ongoing parliamentary debates on the proposed legislation had raised serious concerns. He observed that the law could have far-reaching consequences for civil society and urged the government, which professes a commitment to social harmony, to reconsider the proposed act.
He cautioned that in special enactments such as the PSTB, clear and comprehensive safeguards are indispensable. Without such protections, he warned, there is a grave risk of encroachment upon the fundamental rights of the people.
The remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of repressive legal frameworks in the Tamil homeland, where successive security laws have long been criticised for enabling arbitrary detention, surveillance and the targeting of activists, journalists and political dissent.
During the council session, Baskaran also highlighted a range of urgent socio-economic concerns affecting the public. These included the growing economic burden on families, increases in electricity tariffs and the rising cost of essential services, all of which he said required urgent attention and reconsideration by the Sri Lankan government.
