SJB and other Opposition parties oppose ATB
The main Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) along with several other leading political parties that are currently in the Parliament on Monday took a firm decision to express their opposition to the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB), which is expected to come up in the Parliament shortly. The decision was taken at an extensive discussion held at the Parliamentary Complex under the chairmanship of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
A large number of opposition parliamentarians including Prof. G.L.Peiris, Dullas Alahapperuma, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Udaya Gammanpila and several other representatives from the Janatha Nidahas Sanvidanaya were present.
In addition, major Opposition party representatives including Gajendra Kumar Ponnnambalam, members of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and members from independent opposition parties also made their representation at the discussion and pledged their support against the ATB.
Opposition Leader Premadasa said all party members who were present at the discussion pledged their unstinted opposition to the proposed ATB since this nature of Bill is not suitable for a country, which value democratic principles and people’s freedom and rights to a greater extent.
He said everybody knows that people have the freedom to express their personal views on certain Government issues without sabotaging Government’s on-going development activities.
He said under the ATB nobody could express even independent views on certain issues straightway pertaining to people in the country. The participant members of all parties extensively discussed about certain other important Bills, which will be brought before the Parliament in future.
The Opposition Leader further highlighted if the proposed ATB is approved by Parliament even the international community, who admire democracy will definitely sideline our country for bringing such an undemocratic Bill. The participant members also highlighted the importance of bringing viable Bills for development in the country instead of bringing such a proposed Bill, which is completely undemocratic.