Human Rights Commission advocates abolishing the PTA

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) issuing a media release on 15 February 2022 on the briefing of Diplomats on the Road Map of the HRCSL for 2022 at the Human Rights Commission office said it believes that the offence of terrorism should be included in the Penal Code with a new definition for terrorism.

HRCSL said that notwithstanding the amendments already suggested by the government, the HRCSL advocates the complete abolition of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The Commission said the indefinite period of detention under the PTA violates the Constitution, which says “Deprivation of liberty of a person pending investigation or trial shall not constitute punishment” (Art 13 (4).