SLFP READY TO TALK ON NEW ACT INSTEAD OF CTA: AMARAWEERA
The SLFP was ready to have a dialogue with the Government to enact a piece of legislation in two months- instead of the much-criticized CounterTerrorism Act (CTA)- to wipe out religious extremist violence and terrorism once and for all from the soil of Sri Lanka if the Government was willing, former Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
“We have already submitted a set of proposals to the chairman of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security, Malith Jayatilaka to be considered in the committee, introduce amendments if any from the Government or the UNP, other political parties, the social and religious organizations, religious leaders, the media or anyone else who is concerned,” Mr Amaraweera said.
“The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) has been declared obsolete and draconian, while the CTA gets a lot of criticism saying that it has been drafted on the advice of the West and suppresses media and trade unions if enacted.
“Therefore, bringing these proposals to the Statute book as a separate Act or amalgamate it with the CTA after removing its anti-national clauses is the best way out.
“We need the support of all 225 law-makers and the people to enact these proposals into the law to successfully eliminate new terrorism, extremism and strengthen interfaith friendship and peace,” he added. “The proponents of this piece of legislation urge all lawmakers
to enact a law, the declaration or the spread of hatred, violence and suspicions amongst races, religions and ethnic groups as a criminal offence.
“The education system of Sri Lanka should be comprehensively reviewed and reformed. For this purpose, laws should be drafted to change the education system which is divided along the lines of race and religion.
“The Government should act considering higher education of the children of this country as a Government responsibility.
“Laws should be formulated for the requirement of shaping the Sri Lankan children, who are studying abroad to suit the cultural and social patterns of this country and to educate them on the cultural values.
“Laws should be formulated in order to get all those who arrive in this country to give lectures on national, religious and cultural matters, for research studies and to conduct workshops subjected to a special examination before they enter the country.
“Laws should be formulated in consultation with religious leaders and intellectuals regarding dresses- and other conducts (such as wearing full-face helmets and burqa) that are detrimental to national security and peaceful existence.
“Laws should be formulated preventing the registration of political parties based on the races, religions, castes and regions. Common rules and regulations should be formulated with pertinence to the establishment of religious places and prayer centres. The article regarding the establishment of one Principal Ministry for Religious Affairs should be introduced to the Constitution, instead of promoting different Ministries based on race~ and religion.
“Laws pertaining to Immigration and Emigration should be formulated with a focus on National and religious co-existence as well as National Security. Laws should be introduced, correlated to the monitoring and control of the objectives for which the funds received by different countries, organizations and individuals are utilized.
“Laws should be formulated to control the dissemination of information carrying inadmissible. Influences and criminal objectives in the form of information shared through Facebook and the internet,” he said.
Former Minister Duminda Dissanayake said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and TNA leader R. Sampanthan and leaders of the MEP, CPSL, SLMC and EPDP had agreed to consider the proposal positively and the UNP and TNA had already nominated their representatives to participate in the discussion at the Sectoral Committee.
Former Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna requested not to consider these proposals as coming from the SLFP but from all members of Parliament.
Laws should be formulated in order to get all those who arrive in this country to give lectures on national, religious and cultural matters, for research studies and to conduct workshops subjected to a special examination before they enter the country