P’ment updated on Emergency extension by President

President Maithripala Sirisena’s proclamation extending Emergency regulations for another 30 days with effect from 22 July 2019 was received in Parliament yesterday.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, confirming to the House the receipt of Extraordinary Gazette notification number 2133/1 dated 22 July 2019, held the proclamation was made by President under Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), as amended by Act, No. 8 of 1959, Law No. 6 of 1978, and Act, No. 28 of 1988, bringing into operation the provisions of Part II of the aforesaid Ordinance throughout Sri Lanka with effect from 22 July 2019.

President Sirisena declared nationwide emergency law soon after the Easter Sunday attack, which killed 259 and injuring over 500, granting Police and the military far-reaching new powers to detain and interrogate suspects without a court’s approval. Since then, the Emergency Regulations have been extended twice with the sanction of Parliament. (AH)