Fort Magistrate says PTA does not suspend criminal procedure code

• Orders CID to comply with CPC

Fort Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage yesterday made an order holding that the Prevention of Terrorism Act does not suspend the application of the Criminal Procedure Code.

In the order pronounced in open court, Magistrate Liyanage held that all provisions related to an investigation in the Criminal Procedure Code applies to persons arrested and held in detention under the PTA. 

Quoting from the book 'Criminal Procedure Code by Prof. G. L. Peiris,' the Magistrate said that all investigations into any offence comes under the Supervision and Control of the Magistrate, unless otherwise specifically provided by any other Act. Earlier the AG objected to submitting statements of witnesses in the Hizbullah investigation to the Magistrate. Former Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake in an order dated August 19, 2020, ordered the CID to submit a comprehensive report on all statements obtained in the process of the investigations into  Attorney-at- Law Hejaaz Hizbullah. But the CID did not comply with the order.