The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) of the Parliamentary Opposition will be taking legal action against the recently gazetted Anti-Terrorism Bill as soon as it is tabled in the Parliament.
Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (27), Attorney-at-Law affiliated to the JVP led NPP, Sunil Watagala claimed that this Bill is very similar to the previous related Bill which was brought during the Premiership of the incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
“This recently gazetted new Anti-Terrorism Bill can be very harmful to the democracy of this country. We have understood that this Bill violates the Constitution and curtails the civil liberties enjoyed by the people. None of the trade union (TU) actions such as protests and strikes will be secured by this Bill; it is such a dangerous Bill,” he claimed. He also noted that they would go to the Supreme Court during the 14-days period when the first reading is over. He also said that the NPP would not allow anybody to violate the fundamental rights of the people.
When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday, General Secretary of the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), and Parliamentarian Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that they had discussed on this matter on several occasions and that necessary measures will be taken both inside and outside the Parliament as the main Opposition Party in the country.
There has been constant pressure from the United Nation Human Rights Council and sections of the international community, particularly the West, to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act as amended, which was followed by the new Anti-Terrorism Bill which was gazetted on 22 March.
Several attempts made by The Daily Morning to contact State Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, Attorney Anuradha Jayaratne and Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Wasantha Perera proved futile.