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Govt. seeks to extend law that it once opposed
View(s):Parliament will debate on Tuesday a notification by Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe that seeks to extend for two more years a controversial law which was opposed by the ruling UNP when it was in opposition.
The law allows the Police to detain for up to 48 hours persons arrested without a warrant on charges of murder and other serious crimes. The Justice Minister has gazetted the order to extend for two years the operation of the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions) Act No. 2 of 2013, a law that was opposed by the UNP when it was introduced by the previous government.
The two-year validity of the Act passed in February 2013 lapsed last month. The validity of the law can be extended with a Gazette notification, following which it will have to be approved by Parliament.
The law allows the Attorney General to forward indictments directly to the High Court in special cases involving murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, rape, and offences committed with the use of explosives or an offensive weapon or gun. Such proceedings have to be concluded within ninety days.