PA denies LTTE banned under PTA

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 July 2001, 02:37 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Government categorically stated Monday that “the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was banned under the Emergency Regulations (ER) on January 27, 1998”. The SL Government denied news reports that “LTTE was banned under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA)”. The Peoples Alliance Government argues that if the State of Emergency were allowed to lapse, the ban on the LTTE would automatically be revoked and that the Sri Lankan security forces would be deprived of the legal basis for carrying out their duties in the course of war.

Reacting to the PA’s accusation that the UNP is attempting to sabotage the war effort and give legitimacy to the LTTE by voting against the emergency, Mr.Tilak Marapana, a former Attorney General who is now a United National Party parliamentarian said recently “the LTTE was banned under the Prevention of Terrorism Act which does not come under the Emergency Regulations”. He added, “In 1989 President Premadasa lifted Emergency for some months. At that time LTTE and JVP suspects arrested under the Emergency were brought under the PTA”.

The motion to extend the State of Emergency for another month will be debated in the Parliament on Friday, 6 July. A section of the main opposition United National Party is canvassing support to defeat the extension motion of the State of Emergency.

However, the leader of UNP Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe said "his party would consider how it should vote on the extension motion of the Emergency on Friday, in view of the fallout that could arise if the Government was unable to win the vote."