Opposition to the Prevention of Terrorism Act yesterday in Colombo

The “Repeal PTA” mobile signature collection campaign reached Colombo’s Galle Face yesterday (22), after traveling across the country from Kankesanthurai. The area was with a heavy police presence and an argument arose between the Police and organizers about the purpose of the meeting at that place.

According to the Video footage, a large number of Police officers had been deployed around the area, and subsequently a Police officer was seen having an argument with MP Sumanthiran and others. The Police officer was telling the group that there might be a conflict due to the crowd, while MPs Sumanthiran and Rasamanickam made assurances that there would be no such conflict.

Speaking to the media, MP Rasamanickam said that the PTA is being used by governments to exact revenge against the people and groups that oppose them.

He also said that almost every political party and civil and political organization except for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has joined hands to demand that the Government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe repeal the PTA immediately.

“Representatives of several political parties including the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, the FSP, the TNA, the SLMC, and some from the Sri Lanka

Freedom Party have signed the petition carried in this vehicle. “he said.

We have been saying in Parliament for a long time that the Government would suppress the people with the PTA when they take to the streets, as it can’t handle the prevailing issues.

“What we said has now proved true,” said the MP, adding that it was not the terrorists who engaged in the people’s struggle, they all raised their voices against the corrupt Rajapaksa regime of former President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Organized by the youth organization of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the Galle Face gathering was attended by Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Opposition MP M.A. Sumanthiran PC and ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MPs Tissa Attanayake, S.M. Marikkar, Mujibur Rahuman, and Eran Wickramaratne, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader and SJB MP Rauff Hakeem, Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda, SJB member and former MP Hirunika Premachandra, Ceylon Teachers’ Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin, and actress Damitha Abeyratne.

In addition, a number of trade unions (TUs) and civil and political organizations were also in attendance, all of whom demanded that the Government repeal the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) and release of all prisoners held arbitrarily.