Civil society organizations met justice minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe yesterday (06) and raised contentious issues relating to the anti-terrorism draft bill.
The minister said a final decision would be taken after giving due consideration to all representations.
The meeting came after a request by the National Movement for a Just Society led by Karu Jayasuriya following its consultations in the past
weeks.
The minister’s attention was brought to possible threats to fundamental rights, prohibition of questioning authoritarian acts by authorities, trade union and media matters etc.
Present at the meeting were Prof. Rohan Samarajeewa, Javed Yusuf, Dr. Jehan Perera, Dr. Nimalka Fernando and FMM convener Lasantha Fernando.
Govt. should prove allegations of terrorism
Meanwhile, minister Rajapakshe has told BBC Sinhala Service in an interview the proposed antiterrorism act was meant for national
security.
The government should come up with proof to support any allegation of terrorism, he added.
