• Cites provision to confiscate properties of those guilty of disrupting essential services along with 20-yr imprisonment 

Opposition Parliamentarian, Prof. G.L. Peiris claimed yesterday (3) that the Government has drafted the new Anti-Terrorism Bill in order to completely breach the Fundamental Rights of the citizens.

He said this at a press conference organised by the Freedom People’s Alliance to make the public aware of the proposed Bill.

He noted that the provisions of the Bill went so far as to treat people enjoying their democratic rights as terrorists and to confiscate their properties.

“Every government in this country has had to clash with trade unions. As a result, we have a very long list of essential services. But, this Bill includes various legal provisions to arrest them when they interrupt the delivery of services which are considered as essential services. There is a provision where if someone is found guilty of interrupting those essential services before Court, he/she will be jailed for 20 years and his/her properties will be taken over by the Government,” he said.

Peiris also mentioned that not only the activities of trade unions but also the freedom of speech and the media will also be severely restricted through this new Bill. “According to this Bill, no one can go against the Government’s wishes. According to the Constitution and the law, anyone can hold any opinion and express it. Therefore, it is not an act of terrorism. If the media reports such a case, it will also be considered as support for terrorism, according to the Bill. Then, according to the law, even journalists can be arrested. Not only that, through this new Bill, the Deputy Inspector Generals of Police are now empowered to make arrests at their will while the Attorney General has also been given immense power, thus paving the way for him/her to make arbitrary arrests, which is a very dangerous matter,” he said.

He further stated that any future passing of this Bill is very serious as the alleged human rights violations against Sri Lanka will be taken into discussion in international platforms. “The main purpose of the Government to bring this new Bill is to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act which is considered as being more dangerous. After studying the new Bill, it appears that this Bill is more dangerous than it. We have seen strong international opposition to the existing law. Even the United Nations has criticised it. We are looking at how they will react to the new Bill,” he said.

The newly drafted Anti-Terrorism Bill was gazetted last month (March), and the Minister of Justice, Prisons’ Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, President’s Counsel Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said recently that the Bill is scheduled to be tabled in the Parliament this month.