Mr. G.L. Peiris said today (24). that Sri Lanka has promised the international community that it will not implement the existing Terrorism Prevention Act until a new Act is brought in place the Prevention of Terrorism, and breaking that promise may hinder the process of obtaining international support for Sri Lanka.
He mentioned that he made that promise when he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa also approved it and gave necessary instructions to the relevant departments to act accordingly.
Detaining people involved in demonstrations and struggles for 90 days after implementing this Act is completely contrary to the pledge given to the international community, and the fact that the human rights situation in Sri Lanka is being criticized at a time when a delegation of the International Monetary Fund is coming to Sri Lanka to hold talks is an obstacle to the effort to get the international support that the country needs, including the support of that fund. The MP said.
The MP said this while addressing a press conference held in Colombo. Mr. Peiris said that it is clear from the statement made by the Cabinet Media Spokesman, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena that a new Act will be brought in place of the Act that it is wrong to take certain measures under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
