News
Yahapalana govt. ignored expert advise of counter terror laws – Ajith Rohana

By Rathindra Kuruwita
Many of the recommendations made by the expert committee appointed by the previous government to draft a new counter terrorism law had not been included in the draft bill that was prepared, DIG AJith Rohana on Saturday told the PCoI investigating the Easter Sunday attacks.
Rohana, who was also a part of the Committee, said that they had made a number of recommendations on dealing with religious extremists. They, too, had not been included in the draft, he said.
DIG Rohana said that a proposal to create a new counter terrorism law had been made due to the weaknesses of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) of 1979 and the Public Security Ordinance of 1945. It was impossible to arrest certain categories of people under the provisions of those Acts, he said.
“On April 21, 2016, former Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinge appointed a committee under former Minister of Law and Order, Sagala Ratnayaka to formulate a new counter terrorism law. I represented the IGP in this Committee,” Rohana said.
The Committee paid attention to the current global trends in terrorism and the use of the internet for terrorist activities. A draft of the act was published on September 17, 2018 through a gazette.
“However, most of our recommendations were not in the draft.”
The Attorney General’s representative leading the evidence asked Rohana whether the Committee had considered religious extremism and come up with a definition.
“When the draft was made, Easter Sunday attack had not taken place but we looked at the global trends. We realised that spying was a big problem and we wanted spying to be declared an offence. But it was not in the draft and when we questioned we were told that the government would bring a separate bill on intelligence activities and that the issue on spying would be addressed then.”
DIG Rohana also said that the authority to issue detention orders for suspects arrested for terrorism-related activities should be given to a DIG instead of a court of law, and bail shouldn’t be granted for a person arrested on charges of terrorism for one year.
The DIG said: “If bail is granted before a year, AG’s advice must be sought. If a suspect is to be given bail after a year, a high court should do that. I am making these suggestions based on the complexity of terrorism these days.”
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President invites exporters to rise again from the economic setback

President Anura Kumar Disanayake invited Sri Lankan exporters to rebuild and thrive on a robust economic foundation.
The President emphasized that our country faces the challenge of capturing market share from a position of relative weakness. He pointed out that, to overcome this, external support had to be sought. In this regard, he highlighted that the government is prepared to provide assistance for recovery based on the current economic stability.
President Anura Kumar Disanayake made these remarks at the 26th Presidential Export Awards Ceremony.
The 26th Presidential Export Awards, organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), was held on Friday (07) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) under the patronage of President Anura Kumar Disanayake.
The main objective of the awards ceremony is to recognize exporters who have made significant contributions to the economic development of Sri Lanka.
The Presidential Export Award, presented by the President, is the highest honour for Sri Lankan exporters who have made significant contributions to the export sector and economic development.
The Presidential Export Awards program, initiated by the EDB in 1981, has been held annually to recognize Sri Lanka’s top exporters. The awards ceremony for the 2023/24 financial year took place this year.
A total of 14 major awards and 51 awards in the categories of production and services were presented, with recipients gaining the opportunity to use the Presidential Export Award logo as a marketing tool for three years.
President Anura Kumar Disanayake further emphasized the critical importance of the trust placed in Sri Lanka by international economic stakeholders to stabilize the country’s economy. He noted that the global market economy is interconnected, not entirely independent.
He further pointed out that the primary challenge facing Sri Lanka is securing a substantial share of the market amidst the current global division of markets and the ongoing competition to reclaim market shares.
President Anura Kumar Disanayake noted that the global market has become an interconnected network. He emphasized that in order for the country to become a key participant in this market, it must engage in trade agreements that are beneficial to Sri Lanka. He cautioned that aggressive, reckless approaches to market penetration would not be successful, stressing the need for strategic, thoughtful engagement.
The President further stated that the government is already taking steps to provide the necessary technical support for Sri Lankan exporters to enter the market with high-quality products. He highlighted the government’s focus on supplying new goods and services in response to global changes, in line with international market trends.
Regarding the reduction of electricity bills, the President mentioned that the government is prioritizing renewable energy sources to maintain long-term stability in energy costs. He added that efforts are underway to lower costs and ensure stable pricing over the next few years.
President Disanayake also emphasized that the government is committed to playing a pivotal role in advancing the nation’s economy to new heights. He noted that even small or misguided decisions can have significant negative impacts on the economy, and therefore, decisions regarding the economy must be made with great caution and foresight.
In his remarks, the President assured that the government is fully committed to fulfilling exporters’ requests, which are vital to strengthening the nation’s economy and maintaining a strong economic foundation.
Finally, the President invited Sri Lankan exporters to unite in strengthening the economy, stressing the importance of collaboration and mutual understanding to navigate the challenges of economic recovery and growth effectively.
The ceremony was attended by several distinguished individuals, including Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Thilaka Jayasundara, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Duminda Hulangamuwa, along with various Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Parliamentarians, foreign diplomats, Secretaries to the Ministries, and members of the EDB.
[PMD]
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