IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS PTA TO BE REPLACED=PRESIDENT

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PTA to be repealed within the next few months – President

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will be repealed within the next few months, bringing to an end a struggle that has continued for nearly 46 years.Addressing Parliament today (25 June), the President stated that while this controversial legislation would be repealed, the Government would simultaneously establish a strong legal framework necessary to effectively combat and suppress organised crime within the country.The full speech delivered by the President in Parliament today (25 June) is set out below.

The President emphasised that the punishment of those who had stolen public property and engaged in fraud and corruption had long been an aspiration of the Sri Lankan people, and that the current Government was one that was giving effect to that public expectation. He stressed that no crime would be allowed to be buried by the passage of time, and that the Government would fulfil its responsibility of bringing offenders before the law in the proper manner.

The President made these remarks while participating in the parliamentary adjournment debate on measures to combat the drug menace in Parliament this morning (25 June).He further pointed out that the essence of the mandate given to the present Government by the people was the establishment of a civilized state. In this regard, he stated that there would be no personal revenge against anyone, and that the Government bore the responsibility of ensuring that everyone from the President down to the lowest level of political leadership, and from the Presidential Secretary down to the most junior public official became part of a civilized state.The President also stated that the Government had already taken a series of strong measures to suppress drug trafficking and the armed criminal gangs associated with it, and that the country was now embarking on a long-term path of stability.

It gives me great pleasure to present several points regarding the