Rights groups urge to repeal terror law after UN concerns

UN Human Rights Council urged President Dissanayake ‘to apply moratorium, expedite repeal’ of Prevention of Terrorism Act

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(UCAN) Lankan rights groups have welcomed concerns raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council over the continued use of the island nation’s controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), while urging President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to repeal it promptly.

The PTA, along with other human rights issues in Sri Lanka, was discussed during the month-long 60th session of the UN's intergovernmental body for human rights in Geneva, which concluded on Oct. 8.

“The PTA undermines basic rights such as the right to physical liberty, fair trial, freedom from torture, and freedom of thought and expression,” said Nalin Attapattu of Stand for Minority Rights, commending the UN’s initiative.

Attapattu noted that Dissanayake’s National People’s Power party had explicitly promised in its manifesto to abolish the PTA. In February, the government also established a committee to draft a new counter-terrorism law.