Public petition demanding repeal of Prevention of Terrorism Act and removal or reduction of VAT

Continuing the provisions of the PTA under the guise of a similar bill with a different name will leave the door open to violent suppression by the State

• Following is a public petition from the Movement for People’s Council to repeal the PTA and remove VAT, signed by more than 1,300 people, and handed over yesterday (11) to the Presidential Secretariat

The main objective in passing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) of 1979 was to suppress the minority communities, as well as political activists and parties aligned against the ruling classes. Although meant as a temporary measure, every administration in the last four decades has taken advantage of the PTA to suppress the people. 

The PTA was used with deadly effect against thousands of youth during the 1988/9 insurrections in the south, against Tamil people in the north and east during the civil war and in the post-war period, against the Muslim community following the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, and most recently against activists involved in the 2022 popular uprising. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the main constituent party of the current Government, has been a prominent victim of the PTA.

Consequently, progressive sections of society, political actors, and activists have fought to have the PTA repealed for as long as it has been in effect. There have been promises made both nationally and in international forums to repeal the PTA. During the 2024 elections, the National People’s Power (NPP) party undertook to abolish the PTA if brought to power, as publicly stated before the people of this country and included in the NPP’s official policy documents. We therefore demand that the Government use its parliamentary majority to repeal the PTA without further excuses or justifications. We demand that the Government fulfil the powerful mandate given to it by the voting public in this regard to repeal this unjust and draconian law.

There have been various media statements concerning Government plans to repeal the PTA but introduce a similar bill in its place. Continuing the provisions of the PTA under the guise of a similar bill with a different name will leave the door open to violent suppression by the State, especially as the general law is more than adequate to deal with suspects.

The previous Wickremesinghe Government increased value-added taxes (VAT) from 15% to 18% from 1 January 2024, resulting in extremely high prices of goods and services, especially medicines, essential food items, and school supplies. Thousands of families are grappling with the unbearable cost of living. It is tremendously unjust to place the burden of increasing State revenues on the general public in this manner at the behest of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 

Before it assumed power, the NPP’s official policy statements explicitly promised to renegotiate the harsh IMF conditionalities and provide tax relief. Instead we see this Government falling in line with the IMF. Working people especially cannot meet their most basic needs, causing widespread malnutrition, hunger, poor health, and suffering.

We urge the Government to substantially reduce the VAT and, as promised by the NPP during its election campaign, to take urgent measures to completely eliminate VAT on medicines, essential food items, and school books and equipment as soon as possible.

Signatories

Victims of the draconian PTA

1. Sellaihya Satheeshkumar – Acquitted of all charges, after having been unlawfully detained under the PTA for 15 years.

2. Hejaaz Hizbullah – Attorney-at-Law – Released on bail, after having been unlawfully detained under the PTA for 21+ months. His case continues to date.

3. Wasantha Mudalige – Student leader who was arrested following the People’s Struggle of 2022, was acquitted of all charges, after having been unlawfully detained under the PTA for 5+ months.

4. Ahnaf Jazeem – Poet – Released on bail after 19 months, and was later acquitted of all charges, more than 3.5 years after his arrest in 2020.

5. Galwewa Siridhamma himi – Student leader who was arrested following the People’s Struggle of 2022, was released on bail and later acquitted of all charges, after having been unlawfully detained under the PTA for 3+ months.

6. Hashan Jeewantha – Student activist who was arrested following the People’s Struggle of 2022, was acquitted of all charges, after having been unlawfully detained under the PTA for 50 days.

7. N. Zakaria – Acquitted of all charges after having been unlawfully detained under the PTA for 7+ months, following the Easter Sunday attacks. As a result of their FR petition, the Supreme Court ordered that the Police issue an official apology to them.

8. L.T. Jesmin – Acquitted of all charges after having been unlawfully detained under the PTA for 7+ months, following the Easter Sunday attacks. As a result of their FR petition, the Supreme Court ordered that the Police issue an official apology to them.

Trade unions/unionists

9 .Amila Sandaruwan – Joint Teachers Service Union

10. D.G.N.U.K. Jayarathna – Joint Railway Employees Union

11. Dammika Munasinghe – Joint Development Officers Centre

12. Devinda Kodagoda – Private Workers Centre

13. Dharmasiri Lankapeli – Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions

14. Duminda Nagamuwa – Workers Struggle Centre

15. K.N.P. Fernando – Joint Nursing Service Union

16. Kuganesan Nithershan – Assistant Editor (English), Post and Telecommunications Officers Union

17. Marx Prabagar – Plantation Workers Centre

18. P.M. Punchihetti – Lanka Education Services Union

19. Srinath Perera – Free Trade Union Center

20. Tempitiye Sugathananda himi – Joint Health Workers’ Union

21. Wijepala Weerakoon – Commercial and Industrial Workers Union (CIWU)

22. Y.B. Jayasekara – Joint Water Supply Workers Union Academics/Scholars

23. Arjuna Parakrama – Emeritus Professor, University of Peradeniya

24.Balasingham Skanthakumar

25. Channaka Jayasinghe

26. Dhanusha Gihan Pathirana

27. Dr. Amali Wedagedara

28. Dr. Camena Gunarathna

29. Dr. Farah Mihlar

30. Dr. Kalpa Rajapaksha – University of Peradeniya

31. Dr. Mahendran Thiruvarangan – University of Jaffna

32. Nicola Perera – University of Colombo

33. Pasan Jayasinghe

34. Prof. Deepika Udagama

35. Prof. Savithri Gunasekara

36. Prof. Shamala Kumar – University of Peradeniya

37. Prof. Sumathy Sivamohan – University of Peradeniya

38. Rev. M.V.E. Ravichandran – Senior Lecturer, University of Jaffna

39. Rohini Hensman – Writer and Independent Scholar Clergy

40. Bishop D.L. Rodrigo – Anglican Bishop of Colombo

41. Bishop Duleep de Chickera – Anglican Church of Lanka

42. Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe

43 . Rev. Andrew Devadason – Anglican Diocese of Colombo

44. Rev. D.J. Vijayathasan

45. Rev. Ebenezer Joseph – President, Methodist Church of 

Sri Lanka

46. Rev. Fr. Bennette Mellawa

47. Rev. Fr. Christopher George Jeyakumar

48. Rev. Fr. F.C.J. Gnanaraj (Nehru)

49. Rev. Fr. Issac Daniel Dixon

50. Rev. Fr. Jeevantha Peiris

51. Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos

52. Rev. Fr. M. Sathivel

53. Rev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga

54. Rev. Fr. Rohan Dominic, CMF

55. Rev. Fr. Rohan Silva

56. Rev. Fr. Rohitha Vijayaraj

57. Rev. Fr. Sherard Jayawardane

58. Rev. Fr. Terrence Fernando

59. Rev. Jude Sutharshan Mahendren

60. Rev. Lionel Peiris

61. Rev. M. Luke John – Human Rights Activist

62. Rev. Rajan Rohaan

63. Rev. Sr. Deepa Fernando, HFC

64. Rev. Sr. Jacqueline Vijaya

65. Rev. Sr. Nichola

66. Rev. Sr. Rasika Pieris

67. Rev. Sri Jude Vinothan

68. Ven. Andurathvila Chandrajothi Himi

69. Ven. Fr. Samuel J. Ponniah

70. Ven. Ulpatha Wekandawala Rahula

71. Ven. Weuda Dhammarama himi

Attorneys-at-Law

72. C. Ranitha Gnanarajah – Attorney-at-Law

73. Chamara Nanayakkarawasam – Attorney-at-Law

74. Crisho Jayarathne – Attorney-at-Law

75. Dishara Fernando – Attorney-at-Law

76. Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, PC – Attorney-at-Law

77. Dr. Kusal Kavinda – Attorney-at-Law & Lecturer – University of Colombo

78.Ermiza Tegal – Attorney-at-Law

79. Jagath Kularatne – Attorney-at-Law

80. K.S. Ratnavale – Attorney-at-Law

81. Lakshan Dias – Attorney-at-Law

82. Manjula Pathiraja – Attorney-at-Law

83. Nuwan Bopege – Attorney-at-Law

84. R. Ranjan – Attorney-at-Law & Redfields People’s Forum

85. Ruwani Peiris – Attorney-at-Law

86. S.T. Jayanaga, PC – Attorney-at-Law

87.Swasthika Arulingam – Attorney-at-Law

88. Thanuka M. Nandasiri – Attorney-at-Law

89. Thusitha Siriwardana – Attorney-at-Law

90. Upul Jayasuriya, PC – Attorney-at-Law

Mass movements/organisations

91. Ampara District Alliance for Land Rights (ADALR)

92. Asanbay Society for Social Justice

93. Center for Human Rights and Development (CHRD)

94. Families of the Disappeared (FoD)

95. Free Women

96. Human Elevation Organisation (HEO)

97. Human Rights Hub

88.Human Rights Organisation (HRO)

99. International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES)

100. Islamic Women’s Association for Research and Empowerment (IWARE)

101. Law and Society Trust (LST)

102. Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR)

103. Movement for Plantation Peoples’ Land Rights (MPPLR)

104. Movement of Christian Women’s Voice

105. National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO)

106. People’s Alliance for Right to Land (PARL)

107. Praja Abhilasha Network

108. Redfields People’s Forum

109. Revolutionary Existent for Human Development (RED), Katunayaka

110. Shramabhiani Kendraya

111. Social Institute for Development of Plantation Sector (SIDPS)

112. Sri Lanka Democracy Network

113. Standup Movement Lanka

114. Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF)

115. Upcountry Civil Society Collective (UCSC)

116. Vallamai Movement for Social Change

117. Voice of the Plantation People (VOPP)

118. Women’s Change Action Networks

119. Women’s Action Network (WAN)

Activists/individuals

120. A. Ajitha

121. A.P. Priyanatha Vaas

122. Ainslie Joseph

123. Ajantha Alahakoon – Artist

124. Amal Salinda

125. Amaneth Indipa

126. Amiru Ushan

127. Aneesa Firthous

128. Angelica Chandrasekeran – Therapist

129. Angeline Ondaatjie

130. Angie Seneviratne

131. Anithra Varia

132. Anjalika Rathnayake

133. Anne Tissera

134. Anoma Fernando

135. Anthony Jesudasan

136. Anthony Vinoth

137. Anupama Kalhari Pieris

138. Anupa Nandula

139. Anuratha Rajaretnam

140. Ashila Dandeniya

141. Avanthi Kalansooriya

142. B.P.K. Anuruddika

143. B. Sukitha

144. Brito Fernando

145. C. Tozer – Activist

146. Caryll Tozer – Environmental, Women and Child Rights Activist

147. Chamika Wijesuriya

148. Chaminda Dias

149. Chandra Devanarayana

150. Chanu Nimesha

151. Chintaka Rajapakse

152. Christina Jayamaha

153. Christine Perera

154. Christopher Stephen

155. D.M.A. Hasitha Kumara

156. D.M.A.M. Abeyratne

157. Damith Chandimal

158. Deekshya Illangasinghe

159. Denver Peterson – Independent Activist/Creative writer

160. Dewmi Jayasundara

161. Dhanushka Kumarasinghe

162. Dilhara Pathirana

163. Dilshan Sudeep

164. Dimuthu Guruge

165. Dishani Weralupitiyage

166. Dr. C.S. Jamunanantha

167. Duleeka Nonis

168. E.K. Vithana

169. Eshan Bhanuka

170. Faizal Fareed

171. Francis Raajan

172. G.J. Amarasinghe – Artist

173. Hakeem Aswer – Akurana

174. Harshinie Arachchige

175. Herman Kumara

176. Hilmy Ahamed

177. Himath De Silva

178. Hussain Shamil Imtiaz Ali

179. I.A.K. Lakshan Sandaruwan

180. Imran Rajabdeen – Social Activist

181. Indrakanthi Perera

182. Ishani Ranasinghe

183. J. Thayalini

184. J. Varayalini

185. Jacintha Subasinha

186. Janakan Ponrasa

187. Janakie Seneviratne – Freelance Consultant, Gender and Development

188. Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala

189. Jehan Appuhami – Artist

190. Jeyaseelan Rajaratnam

191. Joanne Senn

192. Jothiraj Jegan – Redfields People’s Forum

193. K. Hemalatha

194. K.M.D.C. Premarathna

195. K. Nihal Ahamed

196. K. Saththiyaseelan

197. Kalani Subasinghe

198. Kathiresan Sritheva Thayalan – Kilinochchi

199. Kurushanthan Mahaluxmy

200. L.A. Vishwa Pathum

201. Lavina Hasanthi Perera

202. Lebbai Thamby Muhseen

203. Leisha Lawrence

204. Lochana Methsiluni

205. Lohan Gunathilaka

206. M. Nirmalathevi

207. M. Perera

208. M. Thamilselvan – Journalist, Kilinochchi

209. Malith Jayarathna

210. Manasha Peiris

211. Mangleswaran Nirujan

212. Manik Rodrigo

213. Mario Gomez

214. Marisa de Silva

215. Marisa Fernando

216. Melani Gunathilaka – Climate Activist

217. Melani Manel Perera – Journalist

218. Minindu Suriyapperuma

219. Mohamed Faizal

220. Mohanarajan Singarajah

221. Murukaiya Thamilselvan

222. N. Arththigan

223. Nagulan Nesiah

224. Nallaiya Vinothan

225. Natasha Vanhoff

226. Navyaa Manivannan

227. Neranjan Maddumage

228. Nimal Perera

229. Nirmala Rajasingam

230. Nisali Uththara

231. P.M. Mujeebur Rahman, LLB – Journalist

232. P.N. Singham

233. Pamitha Kularathne

234. Prabathi Sachinthana

235. Prasad Welikumbura

236. Punithavathy Selvaratnam

237. Pyara Perera

238. R. Kounthini

239. R.M.T.M.D. Rathnayaka

240. R. Robinson

241. R. Saththiya

242. Rajany Rajeshwary

243. Rajkumar Rajeevkanth

244. Ramasamy Yogesan

245. Ravi Fleming Ranasinghe

246. Rhuani Rambukwelle

247. Rosita Fernando

248. S.C.C. Elankovan

249. S. Easwary

250. S. Ethayarani

251. S. Kopika

252. S. Mariyarosalin

253. S.N. Krishnapriyan – Redfields People’s Forum

254. S. Niththika

255. S. Suganthi

256. S.T. Ganeshalingam – Social Activist

257. S. Tharsan

258. S. Thileepan

259. Sabra Zahid

260. Sandumi Godage

261. Sandun Thudugala

262. Sanjaya Fernando

263. Sanjee Goonetilake

264. Selvaraja Rajasegar – Editor, Maatram.org

265. Senadhi Chathuranga Guruge

266. Sheila Richards

267. Shenali Perera

268. Shirani Cooray

269. Shirosh Perera

270. Shohan Perera

271. Shreen Saroor

272. Silma Ahamed

273. Sugath Rajapaksha

274. Sugumaran Vijayakumar

275. Sumaiya Jawfer

276. Surekha Sanjeewanie Samarasena

277. T. Vinnokanth – Redfields People’s Forum

278. Thadsanamoorthy Sarathadevi – Chenkalady

279. Tharindu Uduwaragedara – Host, Satahan Radio

280. Thasneema Dahlan – Educationist and Social Activist

281. Thejana Jayalath

282. Thilina Madiwala

283. Thisul Devagiri

284. Thushara Gallessage

285. Tisaranee Gunasekara – Journalist

286. U.W. Amila Pradeep Kumara Jayathilaka

287. V. Durgabakshi

288. V. Shamini

289. V. Weerasingham

290. Vanie Simon

291. Vanitha Krishnapriyan – Redfields People’s Forum

292. Vimukthi de Silva – International Coordination Committee Member of the International Peasant Movement (La Via Campesina)

293. Vimuth Fernando

294. W.C.N. Alwis

295. W. Francis Priyankara Costa

296. Yasmin Perera