The PTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) was introduced in 1979 to counter LTTE-sponsored terrorism and widespread extremist activities in Sri Lanka. During the ongoing civil war in Sri Lanka, there had been many notable incidents including in particular, the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 – the elimination of Prabhakaran in May 2009, the most significant leader of Tamil Nationalism in Sri Lanka and then the cease-fire, followed by the end of one of the fiercest civil-strife in the history of 20th-21st century.
The Sri Lankan government is drafting a new counter-terrorism law to replace the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe announced recently. The PTA was introduced as a systemic measure to counter the separatist movement launched by the Tamil minority militant groups (LTTE) in 1979, demanding a separate Tamil State.
After the end of the civil-war in Sri Lanka there was no need of the PTA
Since the end of the movement, various International groups and afflicted Tamils have voiced their serious concern about continuing with the draconian law which detained Tamils for decades without citing any plausible reason or being charged in a court of law.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe used PTA extensively for crushing peaceful demonstration against his wrongful policies
President Ranil Wickremesinghe was accused of crushing the protest movement while using the draconian PTA extensively for arresting leaders who were peacefully demonstrating against the government. At least two of the protesting student leaders, including a Buddhist monk, are currently being held under the PTA.
So, under the prevailing circumstances, the PTA has lost its relevance and so Rajapakshe declared: “The drafting of a new act is currently in the process after careful examination by a group of experts.” He further stressed the requirement of bringing a new anti-terrorism law that would ensure the protection of National Security.
European Union has mandated for abrogation of PTA for availing Preferential Trade Facility
The government had also come under pressure from the European Union (EU) to repeal the PTA. The EU parliament in mid-2021 resolved that the preferential trade facility of (Generalized System of Preferences) GSP+ must be scrapped for Sri Lankan exports unless the government took action to repeal the PTA.
The voice of protest for repealing the Preventive Law that allowed indefinite detention of individuals without being produced in courts was a recurrent demand in the past from the northern Tamil minority, but in the recent past, it has been more vocal in the Sinhala majority south.
A popular uprising, which spanned over months with street protests, saw the ouster of the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for his inability to tackle the ongoing economic crisis that led to a shortage of essential commodities, including food, fuel, and medicines. Street Protests have increased to repeal the PTA since August 2022.
Justice Minister announced that the government is seriously concerned in ensuring that the people’s rights are protected in the new anti-terrorism law,”
President Wickremesinghe appears keen to resolve the long pending issue
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Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday also said that he was keen to solve all issues, including land and housing of the Tamil minority community in the country’s Northern Province by next year when the island nation celebrates its 75th anniversary of Independence.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ran a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the Northern and Eastern provinces for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.
Due to political opposition from the majority Sinhala community parties, Sri Lanka’s efforts to solve the Tamil minority issue through negotiations had historically failed.
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Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka between 2015 and 2019 tried a brand new Constitution to incorporate Tamil demands for political autonomy but met with resistance.
Recently, Wickremesinghe also announced the appointment of a committee to find ways to integrate Indian-origin workers in the plantation sector into society.
With the repeal of the PTA which is a long-awaited demand, the other issues will get public support, especially from the North.
And as a neighbouring country, India would look for a peaceful transition to a more humanitarian and holistic system adopted by Sri Lanka. That should necessarily bring peace and exponential growth in the region and Sri Lanka as well.
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