Social justice movement urges immediate repeal of PTA
COLOMBO – The National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) has called on the government to immediately repeal Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism law, warning that its continued enforcement could damage the country’s international standing and threaten fundamental rights and freedoms.
In a statement issued by the movement’s General Secretary, Sunil Jayasekera, the organization said the continued implementation and strengthening of the legislation sends a negative signal to the international community, suggesting that Sri Lanka is unwilling to engage constructively with civil society.
“The continued enforcement of the anti-terrorism law broadcasts internationally that Sri Lanka is not prepared to cooperate with the civic world,” the statement said, adding that the movement had repeatedly highlighted the potential adverse consequences of retaining the law.
The organization argued that legislation introduced during a period of heightened terrorist threats could become a serious danger to democratic freedoms if maintained after the security situation has normalized.
Expressing concern over the possibility of abuse, the movement said there was a risk that the current administration, like previous governments, could misuse the law against citizens and dissenting voices.
The statement further warned that continued reliance on the legislation could prompt adverse reactions from the international community and potentially jeopardize trade concessions such as the European Union’s GSP+ preferential trade scheme.
“The anti-terrorism law affects all communities and can become an instrument for suppressing the people,” the movement said, stressing that it could not support any further enforcement of the legislation.
The NMSJ urged the government to honour its pledge to repeal the law without delay and called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and other state officials to refrain from invoking its provisions while steps are being taken toward its abolition.
-ENCL
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.