The UNP has suggested that a parliamentary delegation visit Maj. Gen. (retd.) Suresh Sallay to take stock of the situation.

The UNP has said that such a step will be appropriate as ill-treatment of the one-time State Intelligence Chief, arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), in connection with the Easter Sunday carnage, has received the attention of the public here as well as the international community.

“The issue today is not whether he is involved in or responsible for the allegations being charged against him. The issue today is how an arrested person is being treated,” the UNP declared.

The text of the statement: “Former Chief of State Intelligence Major General Sallay has been arrested and is currently admitted to the Colombo National Hospital due to his health condition.

Major General Sallay’s wife and son have now publicly disclosed the facts regarding his medical condition. Based on the details they have revealed, it can be concluded that the health condition of the former Chief of State Intelligence is not good.

After working in Malaysia, Major General Suresh Sallay served the country as the Chief of State Intelligence during the administrations of former Presidents’ Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe. During that period, at no time were allegations levelled against Mr. Sallay like the ones being levelled today.

The issue today is not whether he is involved in or responsible for the allegations being now levelled against him. The issue today is how an arrested person is being treated.

According to the information received since the hospitalisation of Major General Sallay, it indicates that he has been treated in the most inhumane manner. The torture and inhuman treatment of an arrested person is completely contrary to Article 11 of the Constitution. It is also a violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of 1966.

An arrested person should be treated in a manner that is consistent with Article 11 of the Constitution and the above international covenant. Otherwise, the problem will not end here. This incident has already reached the attention of the international community.

Section 9(b)(1) of the PTA states that it is the responsibility of the Magistrate “to ensure that the suspect is entitled to the protection provided by the Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, No. 22 of 1994.”

Accordingly, any interrogation conducted in violation of the Act and the Constitution can be considered as Contempt of Court and legal liability will be incurred in this regard.

The United National Party strongly condemns the treatment of Major General Sallay in violation of the Constitution and international conventions.

Since this is an issue that has reached the attention of the international community, it is appropriate to send a Parliamentary team to examine the treatment of Sallay.

We also see the dangerous situation here. If the treatment of Sallay is normalised, the same situation will be applicable to opposition groups as well. It is a very dangerous trend.

At a time when the NPP government is making a huge effort to control the Buddhist religion, this trend may also be implemented against Buddhist monks. All these situations have received the close attention of the United National Party.

The UNP states that any action taken against Major General Suresh Sallay must be in accordance with the Constitution and international conventions. The United National Party is very vigilant about the way the government is acting in this regard.”

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara yesterday told Parliament that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) would be abolished within two months and a new law introduced.

The NPP government earlier proposed the Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA) to replace the existing PTA.

The Supreme Court has determined that several provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution and, therefore, require approval by a special majority in Parliament, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne informed the House yesterday.

Announcing the Court’s determination, the Speaker said that Clause 14, which introduces proposed Sections 12A and 12B, and Clause 18, containing proposed Sections 17A, 17B and 17C, could only be enacted with a two-thirds majority.

However, the Court has also held that those provisions could be passed by a simple majority if they are amended in accordance with the recommendations set out in its determination.

The Speaker said that subject to those specific provisions, the Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill may be approved by a simple majority in Parliament.

The Bill was referred to the Supreme Court following petitions filed under Article 121(1) of the Constitution challenging its constitutionality.

The Court’s determination was communicated to Parliament yesterday.

by Saman Indrajith