Citizens of the Aragalaya Organization today submitted a letter to the United Nations office in Thummulla requesting that the Prevention of Terrorism Act be observed.
The group also held a silent protest to demand the release of those detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Following the protest, the group submitted a letter to the United Nations office, requesting intervention regarding the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Sri Lanka’s new government has drawn international criticism for using harsh anti-terror laws to detain protesters who forced President Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign last month.
Three student activists, including student leader Wasantha Mudalige, were arrested during the first anti-government rally after the state of emergency was lifted. They were being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
Suspects may be detained for 90 days without judicial review under the PTA.
This year, an unprecedented economic collapse sparked often massive anti-government protests in Sri Lanka, after the country ran out of foreign currency to finance imports, leaving its 22 million people facing chronic shortages of essential goods, rolling blackouts, and spiralling inflation.
The government declared a state of emergency, giving security forces broad detention powers, but the ordinance expired last week.
Sri Lanka defaulted on its $51 billion foreign debt in mid-April and is negotiating a possible bailout with the International Monetary Fund.
