The Member of Parliament, M. Sumanthiran, said in Galle yesterday afternoon that the special gazette issued by the President declaring many areas, including 18 buildings located in and around Colombo as high-security zones, will be challenged before the court.
The MP made these remarks while collecting signatures in Galle city demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
“The President has issued a gazette notification called High-Security Zones. This Gazette Notification has been issued under the Official Secrets Act. Using this act, a large area has been declared a “high-security zone.”
“This is an illegal act. People’s uprisings cannot be suppressed by issuing such gazette notifications. Someone must have advised the president to do this after looking at the antiquated laws gathering dust. People’s opposition cannot be suppressed by applying the provisions of the Official Secrets Act. ” Therefore, we are working against this and we are challenging this order before the court. If this continues, no one in this country will be able to survive. All freedoms will disappear. People’s uprisings cannot be suppressed through this. It will not succeed… the MP added.
The signature collection campaign was organised by Galle District former Member of Parliament Wijepala Hettiarachchi.
