Emergency lifted with immediate effect

25 August 2011 11:13 am - 14 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The government said today that the State of Emergency would be lifted immediately; however there would be no affect to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Speaking at the Cabinet Press Briefing last afternoon Minister of Environment Anura Priyadarshana Yapa stated that the President and Cabinet had taken this decision after months of consideration and not due to pressure from any external sources.

“We did not succumb to pressure from India; everyone knows that this government does not get pressurised by outside forces. The President realised that we did not need emergency rule in the country any longer and the decision to remove it was considered many months before,” he said.

When questioned on what would happen to the PTA he stated that the Emergency regulations and PTA were separate entities. However he declined to comment on the status of those being held under emergency or the PTA and said the question was best directed at the Attorney General.

Answering a question on the halting of discussions with the Tamil National Alliance he stated that the government was always ready for discussions. “However I don’t think anyone would be interested in walking into discussions with prearranged conditions,” he said. He further stated that it had been decided that the Parliamentary Select Committee would decide on the best course of action and that Parliament was the best place to decide on matters of this nature. (Dianne Silva

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Comments - 14

J,D, Thursday, 25 August 2011 12:20 PM

Will there be Devils and White vans anymore..........

Thomas Thursday, 25 August 2011 02:56 PM

Emergency out, Now what next?

Rohan Thursday, 25 August 2011 11:54 PM

Thank you India.

Dinesh Friday, 26 August 2011 03:14 AM

The last paragraph of MP - "Parliament was the best place to decide on matters of this nature" - is not the best intrest of public

Rizvi Friday, 26 August 2011 03:35 AM

Thank you MR, TC.

Kiri Berty Friday, 26 August 2011 04:31 AM

Still we can see check points and presents of Armed forces as usual

Copeland Friday, 26 August 2011 04:57 AM

Emergency lifted but the Prevention of Terrorism Act remains. Oh the theatrics...

Manujer Friday, 26 August 2011 05:05 AM

The government is above any law. So it is not very significant thing.

The God Father Friday, 26 August 2011 05:08 AM

Well, same horse but different jocky.

Geriatrix Friday, 26 August 2011 05:10 AM

ok... i want to know what the RIGHTS i have....

can i be arrested without a warrant?
How long can i be detained?

Lalin Mendis Friday, 26 August 2011 05:27 AM

US and India, now u must put pressure the govt to release SF .... the next step....

g1 Friday, 26 August 2011 05:22 AM

YES, you can be still arrested without a warrant under PTA and detained for 18 months.

DUWI Friday, 26 August 2011 06:56 AM

Great job Mr. President. By lifting the Emergency Regulations You have done what none of your predecessors could do for 30 years.

Gamarala Friday, 26 August 2011 08:31 AM

Chindrika did it (although it was short)

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Emergency lifted with immediate effect

Comments - 14

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