The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was introduced as a temporary measure in 1979, but has become a permanent feature of Sri Lanka’s statute book. The PTA gives wide powers to the security forces and has almost exclusively been used against the Tamils. Hundreds of Tamils were arrested each year and detained under the Act. The Act permits detainees to be held incommunicado for up to 18 months without trial. Normal rules of evidence are suspended under the Act permitting admission of confessions as evidence without independent corroboration. This has led to widespread torture against Tamils in custody by security forces to extract confessions.

The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) has been involved in an advocacy campaign for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act in Sri Lanka. Currently, it is in the process of reviewing its project and campaign strategy with a view to bring increased focus on getting more done by the international community and the government of Sri Lanka to repeal the PTA or it to be brought in line with international standards.

The Project Objectives

1. To raise awareness of the undemocratic legislation – the PTA, and to bring pressure on Sri Lanka to repeal them.
2. To draw attention to prolonged detention of political prisoners and failure and weakness of the judicial system.
3. To mobilise the international human rights community and Ilankai/Sri Lanka diaspora to address the human rights concerns of the peoples in the island.
4. To support the families of the Tamil political prisoners held under PTA