PCoI advises against repealing PTA

A Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to probe the findings of the previous Commissions on human rights has advised him against the repealing of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). President Rajapaksa appointed the panel headed by Supreme Court Judge A.H .M.D Nawaz to report on the findings of the previous commissions that looked into the human rights violations in the country. The commission rejecting calls to repeal the PTA has however stated that the PTA should be revisited in line with the anti –terror laws in other countries such as the UK. The commission report has also recommended that cases of those held under the PTA be expedited, and confine the detainees to their own homes or the residential area under special security instead of imprisoning them. The Commission had also recommended that a special advisory board be appointed representing all ethnic groups to advise the president on the PTA. The European Union in a resolution against Sri Lanka stated that the PTA should be repealed to which Sri Lanka responded positively. The Commission is chaired by Supreme Court Judge A. H. M. D. Nawaz, and its other members are retired Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando, retired District Secretary Nimal Abeysiri and former Mayor of Jaffna Yogeswari Patkunarajah.