SL Parliament to hold 2 day debate on emergency extension

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 May 2010, 20:26 GMT]
Two day debate on the motion to extend the State of Emergency will be held from Tuesday in Sri Lanka’s parliament. The Prime Minister is to table the motion seeking the approval to extend the emergency amid reports that the government is likely to withdraw some elements of the Emergency Regulations but to keep Anti-Terrorism Laws and Terrorism Investigations Act intact, Foreign Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris told media Monday.

The Prime Minister will outline in parliament what should remain in the Emergency Regulations when the parliament meets Tuesday, Prof. Peiris further said.

He denied suggestions by media that the decision to relax some elements in ER had been due to foreign pressure.

“The government does not give into the pressure from abroad”, he said.

The State of Emergency is in force since August 12, 2005 and extended every month with the approval of parliament.