Lankapage Logo CP 22 YEARS
Go Home Home Serving the Sri Lankan community globally since 2000
go to LankaPage.com

Leading News from Sri Lanka::

* Supreme Court suspends presidential order for de-radicalization of extremists
Thu, Aug 5, 2021, 09:32 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Aug 05, Colombo: The Supreme Court Thursday issued an interim order suspending the implementation of regulations issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The Supreme Court issued the Interim Order suspending the operation of Prevention of Terrorism (De-radicalization from holding violent extremist religious ideology) Regulations No. 01 of 2021, which was published by way of an extraordinary gazette notification on 12 March, 2021.

This Interim Order will be effective until August 24, the next hearing date.

The Supreme Court issued the interim order after considering three fundamental rights petitions filed by a group of journalists and human rights activists seeking an injunction restraining the implementation of the regulations.

The petitions were heard by a three-judge bench comprising Justices Murdu Fernando, Yasantha Kodagoda and Achala Wengappuli.

Journalists and human rights activists Ruwan Laknath Jayakody, Kavindya Christopher Thomas, Centre for Policy Alternative and its Executive Director Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu and Shreen Saroor had filed the Fundamental Rights petitions naming Attorney General as the respondent.

The petitioners seeking a declaration that the De-radicalization Regulations are not legally valid, allege that the President on March 12, 2021 under Extraordinary Gazette Notification 2218/68 / 2021 had made regulations titled Prevention of Terrorism (De-radicalization from holding violent extremist religious ideology) Regulations No. 01 of 2021 issued under Section 27 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 48 of 1979 (PTA).

The petitioners also point out that under these regulations, any person can be arrested and rehabilitated without any judicial process.

The petitioners allege that the regulations pose a serious threat to their personal freedom.

As these regulations are in direct violation of Articles 10, 11, 12.1, 12.2, 13.1, 13.2, 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.1 (b), 14.1 (d) and 17 of the Constitution, the petitioners request the apex court to allow the petitions to be heard, and to declare that the fundamental rights of oneself and the people of the country are being violated. The petitioners also sought an interim injunction restraining the implementation of this regulation.

Senior Counsel Viran Corea with counsel Suren Fernando, Pulasthi Hewamanna and Manjula Balasooriya appeared for the petitioners. Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle with Senior State Counsel Awanthi Perera appeared for the Attorney General.

 

ColomboPage - Recent 10 Stories ::
Minister requests IGP to conduct an investigation into strikers forcibly entering oil storage terminals
-- [2 hours ago]
Ministry of Education coordinated Committee to prepare textbooks on Sexual and Reproductive Health
-- [3 hours ago]
Sri Lanka Parliament holds the first on-site international training on evaluation for Asia Pacific region Parliamentarians and Parliament research staff
-- [3 hours ago]
Sri Lanka’s trade deficit narrows significantly in February 2023 due to larger decline in import expenditure
-- [4 hours ago]
Sri Lanka’s Colombo-based inflation eases to 50.3 percent in March 2023
-- [4 hours ago]
COPE queries the Vocational Training Authority on issues raised in Auditor General’s report
-- [7 hours ago]
No public servant can refuse to perform official duties - Prime Minister
-- [8 hours ago]
People’s Leasing Company presents its European Award for ‘Best Practice 2022’ to the President
-- [8 hours ago]
No more safe houses at embassies for unregistered female migrant workers, SLBFE informs
Consideration of the petitions against the Finance Secretary for contempt of court on May 22

Copyright © 2000, 2020 by LankaPage.com (LLC) :
The news and other contents on ColomboPage are copyrighted property of LankaPage.com, LLC. Any unauthorized use of any information on ColomboPage may constitute a violation of copyright laws. You need written permission to reproduce, republish, post, transmit, broadcast or distribute, material from this site from LankaPage.com, LLC. However, news organizations or broadcasters in Sri Lanka may republish the news items in ColomboPage with proper acknowledgment to ColomboPage.