Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has warned that power does not last forever. In a recent statement, he called for the immediate withdrawal of the proposed Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill, cautioning that rulers who think they are untouchable today might face these exact powers in the future.
Comparing the draft law to the Prevention of Terrorism Act introduced in 1979 as a temporary step, he said Sri Lanka is still dealing with the fallout of those sweeping state powers.
Dangerous powers
Premadasa flagged several worrying sections in the proposed bill. These include executive detention orders lasting up to one year, allowing confessions made to police, and checking phone records and location data without approval from a judge.
He cautioned that things like tattoos, clothing, language, and personal associations could turn into grounds for suspicion. According to him, this could hit student protesters, investigative journalists, and trade union leaders.
“Governments change. Power changes hands. The people who believe they are untouchable today may one day find themselves at the mercy of the very powers they created”Sajith Premadasa
Price of freedom
Premadasa also highlighted warnings from United Nations human rights experts, who raised alarms that the draft law could be abused against peaceful demonstrators, human rights defenders, media workers, and trade unions.
While agreeing that organised crime must be stopped, he insisted it should not happen by taking away basic rights.
