Emergency to be lifted within certain time frame

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday noted, it was the view of President Mahinda Rajapaksa that the prevailing state of emergency regulations should be lifted within a certain time frame and at the earliest possible time.

He said that the government accordingly would look to prune down emergency regulation clauses gradually over a period of time pending discussions.

The minister also recalled that the government had taken steps to remove several provisions out of the state of emergency since the end of terrorism.The government is also taking measures to release those who are being held under the prevention of terrorism laws after concluding investigations, the minister said. He added that steps have been taken to speed up investigations in this regard and that authorities were working towards completing them at the earliest possible.

He also noted that the government had taken steps to release a large number of such persons after completing investigations into the charges leveled against them.