A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Thursday, February 2, 2017
GL wants to know why terrorists not charged under PTA
EU won’t comment on Sumanthiran assassination bid
Alleging that five former LTTE cadres arrested in connection with an
alleged attempt to assassinate TNA lawmaker M.A. Sumanthiran had been
produced before the Kilinochchi Magistrate and District judge and
remanded till Feb 13 on a charge of possessing explosives and narcotics
instead of under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), former External
Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said the government should explain
its position vis-a-vis key anti-terrorism legislation.
A government that had been preaching to the public of the importance of
the Right to Information shouldn’t keep the people in the dark regarding
vital matters, he said.
Prof, Peiris told The Island last night that the Joint Opposition would
like to know whether the government had suspended the PTA consequent to
talks with the EU as well as various other parties regarding far
reaching changes to counter terrorism legislation and amendment to the
Code of Criminal Procedure Act.
Had they already suspended the PTA pending the introduction of a new
Counter Terrorism Law, Prof. Peiris asked and added that the JO would
closely monitor investigations into alleged political assassination
attempt. The former Law Professor said that the EU shouldn’t be allowed
to influence the decision making process in respect of security matters.
The EU delegation declined to comment on the alleged attempt on TNA MP Sumanthiran’s life.
Prof. Peiris yesterday warned of dire consequences due to dismantling of
what the former eminent law professor called a tight security apparatus
maintained by the previous government.
In accordance with their overall security strategy, the Ministries of
Defence and External Affairs had maintained constant dialogue with
countries where diaspora had been strong and active. As a result, there
had been several successful prosecutions of members of the terrorist
LTTE in Switzerland, France, Germany and Italy, he noted.
Prof. Peiris was addressing a group of trade union representatives at former President’s office at Nelum Mawatha, Battaramulla.
The former Vice Chancellor of the Colombo University recalled the
operations undertaken by the previous government to meet the threat
posed by diaspora elements. There had been a constant flow of
information from various sources due to the previous government’s
initiatives. Unfortunately, Prof. Peiris said the
Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration had dismantled vital security
apparatus thereby paving the way for those disruptive elements to
advance their agenda inimical to the country.
Although the LTTE had been militarily defeated in May 2009, the country
couldn’t have afforded to do away with the Prevention of Terrorism Act
(PTA), Prof. Peiris said. "We realized the requirement to maintain a
robust security system to ensure a peaceful environment. But, the
yahapalana rulers are engaged in a project to abolish the PTA and to
amend some major provisions in the Public Security Ordinance."
Prof. Peiris pointed out that a top level discussion chaired by Prime
Minister and the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on Dec 16, 2016 at
Temple Trees revealed extremely dangerous path the present leadership
was taking at the expense of national security. Alleging that yahapalana
rulers had absolutely no concerns regarding national security matters,
prof. Peiris recalled how the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
summoned him following a statement he made regarding the recovery of
explosives, including one suicide jacket and claymore mines at
Chavakachcheri, Jaffna early last year.
Having mollycoddled terrorists and those who had been based abroad and
pushing for a country divided on ethnic lines, the recent alleged
attempt on the life of TNA lawmaker M.A. Sumanthiran must have come as a
total shock to them, Prof. Peiris said. Having jeopardized national
security for narrow political gains, the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe
administration was struggling in the face of new threat, he said.