Point to ponder on US detention law

Sandasen Marasinghe, Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige

UPFA MP Sajin De Vaas Gunawardena yesterday demanded that TNA MP S. Sumanthiran makes a statement on the passing of an Act by the American Senate, vesting powers in the American Forces to detain terrorist suspects for long periods at the US Army’s discretion.

He made this demand when Sumanthiran quoted US President Obama during the committee stage debate of the Appropriation Bill when the finance heads of Defence and Urban Development Ministry were taken up in Parliament yesterday.

Sumanthiran was speaking on the subject of the PTA and the removal of Emergency laws. However, Vaas Gunawardena rising to a point of order said he could not speak on that topic. Vaas Gunawardena also stated that under the PTA in Sri Lanka, the detaining could be done only by the Police, whereas in the US, a terrorist suspect could be detained by the Army.