Marking International Human Rights Day, Ganapathy Prashanth, the Mullaitivu District Manager of the Environment and Social Development Organization (ECDO), held a press conference in Mullaitivu urging the President of Sri Lanka to immediately suspend the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
Prashanth, speaking at the ECDO office, highlighted the continued detrimental impact of the PTA, which was originally enacted in 1979. He emphasized that the law, intended to be repealed at a specific time, has been in effect for 45 years, disproportionately affecting the Tamil and Muslim communities, particularly in the North-East.
"The Prevention of Terrorism Act was supposed to be temporary, but it has been used extensively against marginalized communities, especially Tamils and Muslims. Despite promises by the current President to suspend the law, there has been no action taken," Prashanth stated. He further pointed out that individuals, including social activists and those involved in commemorating events, particularly in Trincomalee, continue to be harassed and questioned under the PTA.
The call for the suspension of the PTA comes amid ongoing struggles by Tamil communities in the North-East, particularly those advocating for devolution of power. Prashanth noted that leaders of these movements are often targeted by authorities, with their efforts silenced through arrests under the PTA. The act, he argued, has been a tool used to stifle dissent and suppress the political and social struggles of the Tamil and Muslim minorities.
Prashanth’s call for an immediate suspension of the PTA was supported by various stakeholders, including representatives of the people who had lost their lands due to the Mahaweli Project, as well as village leaders from Keppapilavu, a region severely impacted by land grabs. These individuals have long struggled against the use of the PTA to intimidate and control communities advocating for their rights.
The ECDO, through this press conference, reiterated its demand for the President to fulfill the promise of suspending the PTA and bring an end to the ongoing human rights violations associated with its implementation. The organization's call for justice on International Human Rights Day underscores the urgent need for legal reform and the protection of the rights of Sri Lanka's Tamil and Muslim communities.