ex-LTTEers not given complete freedom – Ministry of Justice

By Chamodi Gunawardana

The recent decision by the Government to release approximately 60 suspects detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) on bail was not one made in order to grant them total freedom, the Ministry of Justice said yesterday.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya, on Wednesday, ordered the release of said detainees on bail, under strict conditions, after obtaining the approval of the Attorney General’s Department. However, the suspects were further remanded till 24 November due to a failure on the part of the Attorney General’s Department to provide instructions on granting bail. The Ministry charged in a press release that some conspiratorial groups were trying to spread false propaganda over this decision by the Government in an attempt to arouse racist tensions among communities. 

The press release went on to state that these groups pointing fingers at the government remind themselves of a similar action taken by the past regime in 2010 when it released 140 suspects who had been detained under the PTA for major offences, as ordered by the then Attorney General Mohan Peiris.

The statement called on the public to not be misled by such damaging opinions.