Global human rights organization urges Lanka to abide HRCSL directives

Sri Lanka has been urged by a global human rights organization to abide by the directives issued by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) on arrests and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

The organization has also asked the Sri Lankan government to take measures to revoke the draconian Act.

"The Sri Lankan government should abide by National Human Rights Commission guidelines on arrest and detention while taking urgent steps to repeal the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA)," said New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) today, reports Colombo Page.

PTA has continually been used to detain individuals without charge, despite pledging to abolish the law at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva in October 2015.

After the recent arrests in Chavakachcheri in the Northern Province in May this year, the HRCSL issued directives to be followed by designated officials arresting persons under this act.

The directives are intended to protect detainees against the security forces powers under the PTA.

Asia director Brad Adams said, "Until it is repealed, the government should announce a moratorium on the use of the PTA and instead rely on the criminal code, which does not allow indefinite detention without charge or trial."

The government is working on a new bill to replace the PTA but the process is very slow.