Sajith urges withdrawal of Organised Crimes Bill

While acknowledging the need to combat organised crime, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa questioned whether such efforts should come at the expense of citizens’ fundamental freedoms, warning that those introducing extraordinary powers could one day become victims of the very laws they create.

Premadasa called for the immediate withdrawal of the proposed Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill, saying governments change and power eventually changes hands.

“Governments change. Power changes hands. The people who believe they are untouchable today may one day find themselves at the mercy of the very powers they created,” he said in a statement.

He drew parallels with the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), introduced in 1979 as a temporary measure, saying the country was still grappling with the consequences of the extensive powers it gave the State.

Premadasa raised concerns over provisions in the proposed Bill that would permit detention for up to one year under executive orders, allow confessions made to police to be admitted as evidence and enable access to telephone records and location data without prior judicial approval.

He also warned that a person’s associations, clothing, language or tattoos could potentially become grounds for suspicion.

Such provisions could affect students taking part in protests, journalists investigating corruption and trade unionists organising workers, he said.

Premadasa also cited concerns raised by United Nations human rights experts over the potential misuse of the legislation against journalists, human rights defenders, trade unions and peaceful protesters.

“Nobody disputes that organised crime must be defeated. But why should the price of fighting criminals be the freedom of ordinary citizens?” he asked.

“A government is temporary. The freedoms of a nation must not be,” Premadasa said, reiterating his call for the Bill to be withdrawn.