Sri Lanka to replace anti-terror laws

Sri Lanka on Wednesday said a draconian anti-terror law will be replaced with a Counter Terrorism Act.

The anti-terror law was used during 30 years of war between the Tamil Tigers and the military to arrest those suspected of having links with the rebels.

The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will soon be replaced by the Counter Terrorism Act, Xinhua news agency quoted the Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M Swaminathan as saying.

Swaminathan said the Attorney General will submit a review on 78 trials pending under the PTA with regard to Tamil suspects by September 15.

He said this review will consider the number of detainees that can be subjected to lesser sentences or sent for rehabilitation.

The trials currently pending under the PTA will be dealt under the Counter Terrorism Act.

He also said that 112 files were sent to the Attorney General's Department for advice out of which 108 cases were concluded by the end of 2015.

--IANS

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