Sri Lanka’s new Anti-Terrorism Bill  ‘worse than PTA’ – ICJ

Sri Lanka’s new Anti-Terrorism Bill ‘worse than PTA’ – ICJ

March 31, 2023   08:15 pm

The International Commission of Jurists (IC) has raised concerns over the newly proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill in Sri Lanka.

Issuing a statement in this regard, the ICJ noted that they are ‘extremely concerned’ by the Bill in question, adding that clause 4(1) of the Bill, if adopted, would introduce the death penalty for the “terrorism offence of murder”.

“The ICJ is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances, as a violation of the right to life, and as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment”, the statement read.

Further, ICJ’s Senior Adviser Livio Zilli said that  “Purported threats to national security, whether or not arising in connection with acts of ‘terrorism’, should not be used as a justification for the death penalty”.

Despite acknowledging that the Bill defeated certain discrepancies of the PTA, often referred to as a ‘draconian’ piece of legislation, the ICJ stated that the Bill still comprised of problematic aspects which outweighed the positives.

Citing several other clauses of the proposed Bill, Zilli stated “If enacted as currently formulated, these vague and overbroad offences, similar to and building up on those contained in the PTA, are open to abuse and, as such, they violate Sri Lanka’s international legal obligations and the country’s own constitutional guarantees under Article 13”.

Thus, despite consistently having called for the PTA to be repealed, the ICJ stated that while it renews these calls, it also urges that Sri Lanka immediately halt its attempts to replace it with an “even worse piece of legislation”.

Disclaimer: All the comments will be moderated by the AD editorial. Abstain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or slanderous. Please avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment and avoid typing all capitalized comments. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by flagging them(mouse over a comment and click the flag icon on the right side). Do use these forums to voice your opinions and create healthy discourse.

Most Viewed Video Stories

Headlines of the Ada Derana 6.55pm News Bulletine - 2023.05.29

Headlines of the Ada Derana 6.55pm News Bulletine - 2023.05.29

Ven. Rajangane Saddharathana Thero arrested over controversial comments

NEWS IN BRIEF | MIDDAY PRIME TIME | 2023.05.29

Farmers in Padaviya claim Irrigation Dept. took over their cultivation lands despite freehold deeds

2022 (2023) G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination commences island-wide

Residents of Emelina Division of Brunswick Estate urge govt to complete housing project halted in 2010

Ticket issuing in public transport sectors will be digitalized within two months - Minister

Ada Derana Lunch Time News Bulletin 12.00