The Prevention of Terrorism Act is not the government’s desire or policy, and until a new law is passed, it is necessary to use it very carefully, Chief Government Whip of Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, stated on January 21, 2025, in Parliament.
While Member of Parliament for Jaffna District, S. Sridharan, was attempting to travel to Tamil Nadu, he was stopped by immigration officials at Bandaranaike International Airport’s VIP Lounge, who claimed that he had a travel ban. MP Rauf Hakeem of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya raised questions in Parliament regarding whether the government was acting according to the Prevention of Terrorism Act. In response, the Government Chief Whip made the statement.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan police have arrested nine individuals, including two Maldivians, and an ex-LTTE cadre, over a foiled terror plot targeting tourists at the Arugambay surfing resort. The suspects, including six others accused of gathering intelligence and video footage of the area, are suspected to be linked to an international network. Two additional suspects—a Maldivian and an Afghan—are being pursued through Interpol red notices.
Police’s terrorist investigation division on January 18 produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate Court the three suspects, two Maldivians and a local resident, arrested in connection with the plot. Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) is being applied in the case against these terror suspects.
The police informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate Court that the plotters had sought assistance from former terror suspects, including an ex-LTTE member charged with orchestrating mass killings in 2008. The conspiracy, reportedly planned inside Colombo jail, came to light after the U.S. embassy in Colombo issued a travel warning on October 23, citing credible intelligence of an attack targeting Israeli tourists.
