During his appearance on today’s Pethikada program, Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Bopage voiced significant concerns regarding the expansion of presidential authority outlined in the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill.
Of particular concern to Bopage was a provision within the draft legislation that would grant the President the power to designate organizations and political parties. He highlighted this as a potential area for abuse of power.
The Supreme Court, in its review of petitions contesting various aspects of the Anti-Terrorism Bill currently under consideration in Parliament, ruled that certain clauses would require a two-thirds majority for passage, with one clause additionally necessitating a public referendum alongside the two-thirds majority threshold.
Despite these legal deliberations, Bopage remains apprehensive about the broader implications of the bill’s enactment, emphasizing that it would significantly augment the powers of multiple officials, including the Inspector General of Police, Attorney General, President, and Defence Secretary.
Expressing concern over the potential for misuse, Bopage warned that the ambiguous clauses within the bill could pave the way for the issuance of “repressive orders” lacking legal precedent, potentially infringing upon fundamental rights.
To support his argument, Bopage cited previous incidents, such as the restriction of access to Galle Face Green under the Official Secrets Act and the detention of the Inter-University Students Federation Convener, which sparked legal challenges questioning the legality of such actions.
Source: News first
