Four key demands: Amnesty urges Sri Lanka to repeal PTA
Amnesty International South Asia has made four key requests from the Sri Lankan government regarding the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), expressing concern over continued arrests and detentions under the PTA despite the administration’s commitment to repeal it.
In a post on ‘X’, Amnesty urged the government to promptly investigate allegations of abuse and misuse, probe claims of torture and ill‑treatment while ensuring due process for all detainees, impose an immediate moratorium on the use of the Act, and repeal the legislation without delay.
Amnesty further described the law’s “overly broad provisions” as incompatible with international human rights standards.
The organization highlighted the case of 24‑year‑old Tamil hip hop artist Sangeethan Ganeskumar, known as Hiphop Sangee, who was arrested on June 2 and remanded until June 17 over a performance authorities claim glorified the LTTE.
Amnesty stressed that “Sri Lankan authorities must immediately release Sangeethan Ganeshkumar unless he is promptly charged with an internationally recognisable offence in proceedings consistent with international fair trial standards.”
The statement also drew attention to concerns raised by family and lawyers regarding the detention of former State Intelligence Service Chief Suresh Salley, arrested in February in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.
Amnesty stressed that suspects must be brought to justice through strict adherence to due process and fair trial rights, while victims of the bombings deserve truth, justice, and reparations.
The organization further noted that the PTA has been invoked in drug‑related cases, raising questions about its scope and application, and warned that the Act enables arbitrary practices and creates conditions conducive to torture due to the absence of safeguards. (Newswire)
Sri Lanka: @amnesty is concerned by the continued arrests and detentions carried out under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), notwithstanding the current administration’s stated commitment to repeal the legislation, which has long been criticized for its overly broad…
— Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office (@amnestysasia) June 8, 2026
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