Committee reviewing PTA; will abolish it soon: Justice Minister

• New anti terrorism laws will be drafted subject to human right principles accepted globally and to face global terrorism and contemporary global challenges  

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

The government has appointed a committee headed by President’s Counsel (PC) Rienzie Arsecularatne to review the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the Anti Terrorism laws introduced during former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure and that new anti terrorism laws will soon be introduced after abolishing the Prevention Of Terrorism Act (PTA), Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said yesterday.  

Speaking during the committee stage debate of the expenditure head of the President, he said the new anti terrorism laws would be drafted subject to human rights principles accepted globally and to face global terrorism and contemporary global challenges.  

The Minister said the NPP government will take steps to abolish the PTA as promised before the election and said no one should have any fear regarding that.  

He said the government is not expecting to delay the process of abolishing the PTA until the next election by reviewing the PTA but will soon introduce a new Act to replace the PTA.