http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2011/08/110831_hakim.shtml


New laws replace emergency regulations

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‘New law will restore detention powers’ – Minister Hakeem


Sri Lanka has introduced new legislation which allows it to continue to detain without charge people who are suspected of terrorism.

Justice Minister Rauff Hakim told BBC on Wednesday that the new laws will be in place with the expiry of similar provisions under the country’s controversial emergency laws………………………….

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http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/13329-new-laws-replace-emergency-regulations-.html

New laws replace emergency regulations

Thursday, 01 September 2011 10:00


clip_image004Sri Lanka has introduced new legislation which allows it to continue to detain without charging people who are suspected of terrorism.


Justice Minister Rauff Hakim told BBC on Wednesday that the new laws will be in place with the expiry of similar provisions under the country’s controversial emergency laws.


Last week President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced the imminent lifting of the country’s state of emergency. ………………….

"We are planning to bring in new legislation to parliament as an urgent proposal to keep them in detention until they are charged," he added…………

"The new bill for legislation will be in addition to the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). This new law will restore detention powers. We expect the new draft bill to be approved by cabinet next week prior to be presented in parliament," the Minister told Sandehshaya…………

Western governments and India had been urging an end to the emergency………….

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http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/13331-govt-has-hoodwinked-masses-jvp.html


Govt. has hoodwinked masses: JVP

Thursday, 01 September 2011 12:42


clip_image007The JVP charged, at a special press conference today that the government had hoodwinked the masses in the guise of withdrawing the emergency regulations.  JVP MP Vijitha Herath said that the PTA which still remains intact gives powers for the police and the military to search houses without a warrant from court. Also, Mr. Herath said that the military and the police could extract confessions from any individual under the PTA and detain him without any trial in a court of law for a long period.


“Therefore, as far as the PTA remains, people will not enjoy the actual freedom they desire. The military camps set up in civilian areas in the districts of    Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna will continue to be there even in the aftermath of the withdrawal of emergency…………….


http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/sep2011/sril-s01.shtml


Sri Lankan government ends emergency, but police state continues

By Deepal Jayasekera

1 September 2011

More than two years after the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Sri Lankan government has finally lifted the state of emergency imposed during the war. President Mahinda Rajapakse announced the move last Thursday in a bid to deflect mounting international pressure over his government’s war crimes and abuses.

The decision was immediately hailed by the media and political establishment in Colombo as a step toward democracy. In reality, the change is purely cosmetic. Most of the police-state powers exercised under the country’s longstanding state of emergency will continue under existing or amended legislation.

None of the thousands of Tamils currently detained under emergency powers and held arbitrarily without charge or trial as “LTTE suspects” will be released. The extensive high security zones proclaimed by the military will not be removed. And the LTTE will continue to be proscribed as a “terrorist organisation.”

These anti-democratic measures will be enforced as newly proclaimed regulations under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which remains in place. The PTA gives sweeping powers to the security forces and police, including detention without trial for up to 18 months.

Attorney General Mohan Peiris told the Daily Mirror on Tuesday: “We will leave no room for de-proscription of the LTTE and the invalidation of the High Security Zones. Also, we need these new regulations to deal with LTTE surrendees and detainees. There will not be any respite in this case, though the emergency lapses