By Saman Indrajith

Leader of the House and Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday presented to Parliament the new definitions for the term ‘terrorist’ and ‘terrorist act’.

The Leader of the House presented these definitions while moving amendments to the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing Amendment Bill during its committee stage.

The term ‘terrorist’ means any person who
(a) directly or indirectly and willfully commits or attempts to commit a terrorist act;
(b) participates as an accomplice in committing a terrorist act;
(c) organizes, directs or aids or abets the commission of a terrorist act;or
(d) contributes to the commission of a terrorist act by a group of persons acting with a common purpose where the contribution is made intentionally and with the aim of furthering the terrorist act or with the knowledge of the intention of the group to commit a terrorist act.

The term ‘terrorist act’ means

(a) an act which constitutes an offence within the scope of or within the definition of any one of the Treatises specified in Schedule I of the act;

(b) any other act intended to cause death or serious bodily injury, to civilians or to any other person not taking an active part in the hostilities, in a situation of armed conflict or otherwise and the purpose of such act, by its nature or context is to intimidate a population, or to compel a government or an international organisation, to do or to abstain from doing any act; or

(c) the use or threat of action: (i) which is designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public or a section of the public; and (ii) which is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological purpose, and such action,
(aa) involves serious violence against a person;
(bb) involves serious damage to property;
(cc) endangers the life of another person, other than the person committing the action;
(dd) creates a serious risk to health or safety of the public or a section of the public; or
(ee) is designed seriously to interfere with or seriously to disrupt an electronic system.

DNA MP Vijitha Herath and independent MP Ajith Kumara rose and voiced their protests against the definition on the term ‘terrorist act’. They pointed out that the description ‘purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological purpose, and such action’ did not fit into what was required. If those laws were passed none could engage in active politics and it would not only be applicable to the opposition but also to the government therefore the description should be further amended.

MP Ajith Kumara said that the words ‘to compel a government or an international organisation,’ had deprived the citizens of this country going before the international bodies such as the UN and holding demonstrations and hunger strikes and demanded to repeal those words.

Leader of the House Minister Silva overruled the requests. Accordingly the Bill was passed with the amendments moved by the minister.COURTESY:THE ISLAND