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Zuhair alleges proposed anti-Terror Act more draconian than PTA
Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador to Iran M.M. Zuhair, PC has warned that the proposed Counter Terrorism Act could be utilised by the government to crush even farmers’ protests.
The following is the text of a statement issued by the ex-Senior State Counsel and former People’s Alliance MP: The Counter Terrorism Bill, originally gazetted six years ago, on 17th September 2017, and then abandoned due to strong public criticism, has been re-gazetted on Friday 15th September 2023, re-named ‘Anti-Terrorism’ Bill, with some insignificant amendments, with provisions more draconian than in the controversial Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No 48 of 1979 (PTA).
A debt stricken Sri Lanka is now being displayed to the world as wanting to counter foreign investments, tourism, exports, etc., by declaring to the world that Sri Lanka is badly in need of more serious terror laws to confront future ‘aragalayas’, the troubling ‘media’, the ‘terrorist’ Muslims’, the ‘impossible diaspora’ and the ‘insubordinate’ Church,a formidable list of current and future terrorists!
Terrorism is loosely defined and broadened without boundaries in section 3 of the bill. Section 2 of the PTA, currently in operation, had 10 accurately defined offences, restricted as against the offences in the Penal Code, to causing the death of, attacks on or criminal intimidation of ‘specified persons’ listed in the Act and ‘witnesses’ to offences under the PTA; kidnapping or abduction of witnesses; robbery or mischief of State property, illegal import of arms or ammunition, harbouring PTA offenders, etc.
Significantly the re-gazetted Anti-Terrorism Bill in section 3(1), creating the offence of terrorism has not limited ‘terrorism’ to any “illegal” act but vaguely extends to “any act” or “illegal omissions”. Furthermore unlike in the PTA, section 3(1)(a) of the Bill is overbroad in that the phrase “criminal intimidation” of “any specified person or a witness” have been dropped and the phrase “intimidating the public or a section of the public” have been brought in, unduly and vaguely broadening the category.
A legitimate protest march by farmers for instance demanding fertiliser could end up with the leaders of the protest march being arrested for ‘intimidating a section of the public’ and “causing hurt” under section 3(2) to an undefined person in the protest march! PTA had provided for causing ‘grievous hurt’ to a specified person or witness. But this Bill has broadened the category into causing simple ‘hurt’ as an act of terrorism! The new law can step in to lock up the protest leaders for at least a year, with the State having only to allege ‘intimidation and causing simple hurt’!
Section 3(1)(b) of the Bill is more draconian! PTA did not have any offence that related to the ‘Government’ per se, meaning the President, the Cabinet of Ministers and the rest of the executive. But the Bill has included the commission of “an act” “wrongfully or unlawfully compelling the Government of Sri Lanka or any other Government or an international organisation to do or to abstain from doing any act” as committing the offence of terrorism!
If for instance, India drops “parippu” or its armed forces enters North-East Sri Lanka whether by force or by coercing or intimidating the government of Sri Lanka into wrongfully and unlawfully agreeing to allow the Indian forces to enter and remain therein as it happened in 1987, then Sri Lankans launching any protest against the invasion of one’s country, could be locked up as ‘terrorists’ under the proposed law!
Remember the George Bush and Tony Blair invasion of Iraq in March 2003 alleging falsely that Saddam Hussain possessed ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction! It is more likely this provision will also facilitate the unsolicited entry of US forces into Sri Lanka, under the pretext of containing China, once the Russian-NATO war in Ukraine is over before the end 2025! All signals are in place for such an occurrence, a view that cannot be expressed once this Bill becomes law!
There are in the Bill many more draconian provisions, which instead of regulating the security apparatus, seek to over-empower them at the cost of the liberty of the subject.
Latest News
Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 27 April 2025, valid for 28 April 2025
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Latest News
People have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans sans ethnic or religious divisions- PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that for the first time in history, mosques in Kandy had opened their doors to accommodate the needs of devotees visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and that people have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans beyond dividing into ethnicities and religions.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a public gathering held in the Paragahadeniya area in Kurunegala.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated:
“This country is undergoing a transformation we expected,so accordingly, we must operate in new ways. People are beginning to feel that we must work towards a new transformation. We can see this change even within our ministries. These days, sometimes when we visit ministries even after 5 PM, and ask if it is possible to have discussions, the officials are always open. Today, public officials are willing to work late into the night, until 9 or 10 PM. Officials have now started working without fear.
Remarkably, for the first time in history, Muslim mosques in Kandy remained open throughout the night to accommodate pilgrims visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. They even provided space for devotees to rest. There were no ethnic or religious tensions. What we saw was respect for other ethnicities and religions. This is happening because there is now a sense of a government that represents all Sri Lankan people, not just Sinhalese, Muslims, or Tamils”.
The event was attended by the candidates for the local government election including the residents of the area.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has urged the NPP government to prevent Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard Company from selling its 51% ownership stake in the Colombo Dockyard Limited (CDL) to Indian government-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, a leading shipbuilder.
FSP spokesman Pubudu Jayagoda told The Island yesterday (27) that the move seemed to be in line with the overall India-Sri Lanka understanding on the basis of the recently signed memorandum on defence cooperation.
Against the backdrop of deteriorating financial situation, the Japanese company has informed the board of directors of CDL of its plans to divest its 51 percent ownership stake in the international shipbuilding and repair company. The Japanese shipbuilder made the announcement in early Dec last year.
Alleging that an agreement has been reached on the sale of Onomichi’s controlling ownership stake to the Indian ship builder, Jayagoda questioned
the move as Mazagon primarily built a range of warships and attack submarines. Jayagoda pointed out that according to Mazagon’s profile, the Indian government-owned business undertaking was involved with European companies engaged in ship and submarine construction.
Addressing a Local Government election meeting at Weeraketiya, Pallekanda, in support of those contesting the May 6 election on the ticket of Jana Aragala Sandhanaya (JAS), the executive committee member of JAS Jayagoda emphasized that in terms of the agreement between Sri Lanka and Japan, Onomichi couldn’t sell its stake without the Sri Lankan government’s approval. Therefore, the NPP government should intervene to halt the Japanese-Indian move, the FSP spokesman said while urging the parliamentary opposition to publicly oppose the planned sale of the Japanese stake.
Among other stakeholders are Sri Lanka Insurance, Sri Lanka Ports Authority and EPF.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts
People have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans sans ethnic or religious divisions- PM
Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Vavuniya, Mullaittivu and Kurunegala districts.
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