Committee report on PTA review presented to President

The report of the Committee of Officers appointed to review the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979 was presented to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa early this week, Defense Ministry said.

The Committee Chairman Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) presented the first copy of the report to the President.

The Committee of Officers was appointed on 24 June 2021 to make recommendations to the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed by the President to review the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 48 of 1979, taking into account the discussions that have taken place among different parties regarding various aspects of national security.

The Committee chaired by Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) also includes Secretary to the Ministry of Justice M.M.P.K. Mayadunne, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Major General Jagath Alwis (Retd), Inspector General of Police C. D. Wickramaratne, Head of National Intelligence Major General Ruwan Kulatunga (Retd), Legal Draftsman Dilrukshi Samaraweera, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Justice Piyumanthi Peiris, Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, Deputy Legal Advisor at the Foreign Ministry Thilani Silva and Deputy Director at the Foreign Ministry Mahesha Jayawardana as other members.

Ms. Jeewanthi Senanayake, Senior Assistant Secretary to the President, served as the Secretary of the Officers' Committee.