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Proposed Anti-terrorism Bill a grave threat to human rights and individual freedom: LDM
The proposed Anti-terrorism Bill is a grave threat to human rights and individual freedom as it would shrink the democratic space in society, the Lanka Democratic Movement (LDM) said.
The full statement issued by the LDM is as follows: “We strongly oppose the proposed Anti-terrorism bill, which threatens to undermine democracy and erode judicial oversight over detentions. This bill has the potential to stifle the right to peaceful protest and poses a grave threat to individual freedoms. The new law introduces more draconian measures than the current Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which we believe curtail human rights and individual freedom.
We call on all those who value freedom and the rule of law to join us in defeating this bill. The right to protest peacefully is a fundamental pillar of any democracy, and this bill threatens to crush it. We urge the government to reconsider this proposed legislation and uphold the principles of democracy, freedom, and human rights for all.
It is apparent that the current government intends to utilize the proposed Anti-terrorism Bill as a means to consolidate their hold on power by suppressing opposing voices. However, the nature of such repressive laws is that even their architects can become victims of them when governments change. Therefore, those who support the Anti-terrorism Bill today must remember that a future government could potentially employ the same legislation to stifle them.
In a democratic society, the rule of law and the protection of fundamental human rights are crucial principles that must be upheld. Counter-terrorism measures must respect these principles and avoid infringing upon the rights of citizens.
Any counter-terrorism law should be transparent, accountable, and subject to judicial oversight to prevent abuse of power. It should also include clear definitions of what constitutes terrorism and what actions are prohibited, to prevent arbitrary or excessive use of force.
Additionally, any new counter-terrorism law must be proportionate to the threat faced and should not unduly restrict the freedom of speech, association, or assembly. Safeguards should also be in place to protect against racial profiling and discrimination.
Overall, it is possible to introduce counter-terrorism laws without violating basic tenets of democracy, but it requires careful consideration and balancing of the need for security with respect for individual rights and freedoms. Unfortunately, the Government has failed to adhere to these basic tenets of democracy when designing the Anti-Terrorism Bill.”
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Food Policy and Security Committee recommends importation of rice to ensure an uninterrupted supply
The Food Policy and Security Committee has recommended the importation of rice in the near future to ensure an uninterrupted supply for consumers.
A notable increase in rice prices has been observed in the market, along with reports of shortages of certain rice varieties, despite the current harvest season.
Given this situation, discussions were held regarding the need for the Cabinet to prioritize the maintenance of sufficient stock, through rice imports.
The Committee, chaired by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha and Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Vasantha Samarasinghe, convened for the fifth time at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (01). The meeting aimed to formulate policy decisions to ensure food security.
During the discussions, it was revealed that due to excessive rainfall this year, crop damage occurred on two occasions, leading to a significant reduction in the expected harvest.
Furthermore, during the meeting it was stated that the improper use of rice for animal feed is another major reason contributing to the rice shortage. As a result, the Committee also focused on the importation of broken rice for animal feed and the use of alternative feeds to mitigate the impact on livestock production.
Accordingly, the Food Policy and Security Committee approved the formation of a Committee, led by the Director General of Agriculture, to oversee the importation of the required quantity of broken rice through proper mechanisms.
Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, and other members of the Food Policy and Security Committee, including Ministry Secretaries, participated in the discussions.
The People of Myanmar are facing immense hardships caused by the devastating earthquake on 28th March and as reported by the international media reports the death toll is over 2,700. Furthermore, it has been reported that many people are missing while, a large number of individuals have been injured and are receiving treatment.
Considering the long – term close relationship between the two nations as two Buddhist states, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to provide,
• A sum of United States Dollars One Million
• Transportation for the dry rations collected by Buddhist clergy and other donors
• To have a group of medical officers and health staff on standby for immediate departure to Myanmar if necessary
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Cabinet appoints ministerial committee to submit report on sanctions imposed on 04 Sri Lankans by the United Kingdom
Attention of the Cabinet of Ministers have been drawn on the decisions taken by the United Kingdom to impose sanctions on four Sri Lankan individuals recently, and have decided to appoint a committee comprised of three ministers to submit a report with recommendations on the further measures to be taken after studying the facts in the regard and to empower the committee to obtain the service of any officer/intellect deemed to have subject expertise in the relevant field and considered essential.
The committee will comprise of :
– Vijitha Herath Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism
– Attorney – at – Law Harshana Nanayakkara Minister of Justice and National Integrity
– Aruna Jayasekara Deputy Minister of Defence
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