President gazettes new detention centre for suspects held under PTA
COLOMBO– Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has gazetted a new detention centre to hold suspects arrested under provisions in the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
“I, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President do hereby notify that the premises specified in the Schedule hereto, shall be a place of detention for the purposes under Section 9 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act , No. 48 of 1979,” the gazette notice issued on June 4 said.
The Counter Terrorism Investigation Unit premises in Kirulapone, Colombo05, will be used as the new detention centre, according to the aforesaid Schedule.
Section 9 (1) of the PTA reads: “Where the Minister has reason to believe or suspect that any person is connected with or concerned in any unlawful activity, the Minister may order that such person be detained for a period not exceeding three months in the first instance, in such place and subject to such conditions as may be determined by the Minister, and any such order may be extended from time to time for a period not exceeding three months at a time… Provided, however, that the aggregate period of such detention shall not exceed a period of eighteen months.
“(2) (a) At any time after an order has been made in respect of any person under subsection (1), the Minister may direct that the operation of such order be suspended and may make an order under subsection (1) of section 11.
“(b) The Minister may revoke any such direction if he is satisfied that the person in respect of whom the direction was made has failed to observe any condition imposed or that the operation of the order can no longer remain suspended without detriment to public safety.”
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