Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday said that Sri Lanka would introduce a new anti-terrorism law on the lines of the British.

The proposed law would replace the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Premier Wickremesinghe said, adding that he had authorised the use of PTA to facilitate the ongoing investigations into the recovery of explosives and arrest of several members of the LTTE rump.

The UNP leader was addressing the 20 the Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum at the Sports Ministry auditorium.Premier Wickremesinghe said that he had instructed relevant authorities to continue investigations and produce suspects in court or release them. Those who had been arrested in this connection were ex-members of the LTTE and they had been in touch with each other for sometime.

The PM revealed that the government was inquiring into the possibility of those who had been taken into custody recently making an attempt to establish a new terrorist group. The government would take appropriate action in this regard. He welcomed former LTTE spokesman Daya Master taking up recent arrests. He was referring to Daya Master posing a question to President Maithripala Sirisena at a recent meeting at the President’s House.

The PM asked: “Who could raise the disappearance of media personality Prageeth Ekneligoda during former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s time?” He said that was the difference between the two governments.

Taking exception to The Island lead story, ‘LTTE revival bid confirmed: TNA youth leader arrested’ on April and a previous news item, Sampanthan, others storm army camp: Probe hushed up, PM Wickremesinghe alleged that such reportage was timed for May Day. He alleged that a section of the media, including The Island and its sister paper Divaina was trying to bring back ‘Dutugemunu’.

The PM vowed that the LTTE or any other party wouldn’t be allowed to resume terrorism again.

The PM said that unless a statement was given to the police within 24 hours, both editor of The Island and the writer of the article would be summoned. Parliament, too, could make inquiries in this regard, he said.

The PM said that the Press Complaints Commission should inquire into the report and inform the government.

The media had a right to criticize the government though it should not cause tension among communities, he said.

Courtesy:The Island