A Tamil woman tearfully called on the Northern Province Governor Jeevan Thiyagarajah to release her husband, who was detained by Sri Lankan authorities under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) more than 12 years ago.
“My children are living without a father for 12 years now,” she told reporters.
“They have reached the age of marrying,” she added, calling for the release of her husband so that he could at least attend their son’s wedding.
“He is suffering from various illness and he should be treated,” she added.
It is not known how many Tamil political prisoners remain detained under the PTA, which the Sri Lankan state has refused to repeal for decades. Lawmakers claim hundreds of Tamil political prisoners continue to languish in Sri Lankan prisons under the much-criticised legislation.
In October 2021, a Tamil man from Amparai who was incarcerated as a teenager was released after being held for 12 years without charge. In December that same year, another 45-year-old Tamil man was released and acquitted of all charges after 15 years in detention. Recent years has seen the use of the PTA ramp up under the presidency of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Sivagnanam Sritharan told Sri Lanka’s parliament in October 2021 that, “39 [Tamils were] arrested in North-East in last three months” alone.