Attorney Dhanushka Silva recently presented his insights on the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) during a two-day conference organized for regional leaders by the Right to Life Human Rights Centre. The event, held at the Camelot Hotel in Negombo, attracted many regional representatives and staff members of the Right to Life Human Rights Centre.
In his presentation, Attorney Silva explored the historical and contextual background of the PTA, highlighting its introduction to Parliament in 1979 by the former State Minister, Lalith Athulathmudali. Silva explained that Minister Athulathmudali, in justifying the need for such legislation, referenced the 1971 insurgency and escalating tensions in the Northern Province at the time.
A noteworthy point Silva raised during the discussion was that Maithripala Sirisena, the then Sri Lanka Freedom Party MP for Medawachchiya, did not oppose the act. However, Sirisena had urged that the PTA be applied only in the Northern Province, given the specific conditions prevalent there.
Attorney Silva’s lecture, titled “The Prevention of Terrorism Act: History, Context, and Current Practice,” was based on research conducted for the Right to Life Human Rights Centre. His full research report on the topic is available for download through the link below.
https://www.right2lifelanka.org/prevention-of-terrorism-act-history-context-and-current-usage/
