Regulations in line with UN obligations

COLOMBO: The Government will introduce far-reaching measures to curb terrorism and terrorist activities by any person or group of persons, in keeping with its policy to achieve peace, the search for a political solution to the national problem, and maintain supplies and services essential to the life of the community.

Regulations to curb terrorism and terrorism related activities by individuals and groups will be promulgated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa under the Public Security Ordinance and the prevailing state of Emergency, a Government statement said yesterday.

This decision was taken following a review of the current security situation, the threat of secession and progress of the peace process by the Cabinet of Ministers at the Cabinet yesterday. The regulations will effective from today.

The new regulations prohibit any person, group of persons or organisation from engaging in terrorism, any specified terrorist activity, or any activity in furtherance of any act of terrorism or specified terrorist activity, the statement added.

These regulations give effect to obligations cast on Sri Lanka by international Conventions and other legally binding international legal instruments relating to the prevention and suppression of terrorism, including the UN Security Council Resolution making it obligatory to take meaningful measures to prevent and suppress terrorism.

They prohibit the wearing, display, hoisting, or possessing of any uniform, dress, symbol, emblem relating to terrorism or terrorist activities; the summoning, convening, conduct or participation in a meeting relating to terrorism and terrorist activities; harbouring, concealing or assisting a member or cadre of an organisation engaged in terrorism, or terrorist activities; or participating in any activity even relating to terrorism or terrorism related activities.

The prohibitions under the new regulations also extend to any transaction including contributions, providing, donating, selling, buying, hiring, leasing, receiving, making available, funding, distributing or lending materially or otherwise to any person, group, associate or cadre engaged in terrorism or any terrorism related activities.

The new measures provide for transactions approved under the regulations that are for the purpose facilitating the development of a peaceful political solution, termination of terrorism or specified terrorist activity, maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community or for any other lawful purpose by any Sri Lankan, international Governmental or Non-Governmental Organisation, done in good faith and with the written permission of the Competent Authority appointed for the purpose.

The prohibitions under these regulations also extended to the providing of any information detrimental of prejudicial to national security to any person or group of persons engaged in or known to be engaged in terrorism or terrorism related activities.

The implementation of these regulations will come under a Competent Authority appointed by the President.

There is provision in the regulations for any person aggrieved by a decision of the Competent Authority to appeal against such decision to a special tribunal appointed for the purpose.

Contravention of these regulations carries penalties imposed by a High Court, varying from imprisonment from 10 to 20 years and of five to 10 years, depending on the nature of the offence.

Those responsible for causing offenses under these regulations, other than individuals and groups of individuals, include corporate bodies, partnerships, and unincorporated bodies.

With regard to corporate bodies and partnerships, every director or partner and principal executive officer of such organisation; and every officer of an unincorporated body will be held directly responsible for offences under these regulations.