Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs D.M Swaminathan speaking in Parliament yesterday stated that the Prevention of Terrorism Act will soon be abolished and be replaced with the Counter Terrorism Act.

Responding to a question posed by Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan, Minister Swaminathan stated that the Attorney General is scheduled to submit a review about the 78 trials pending under the Prevention of Terrorism Act with regard to Tamil suspects, by September 15. This review will consider the number of detainees that can be subjected to lesser sentences and the number of detainees that could be sent for rehabilitation, he added.

While pointing out that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will soon be abolished and it will be replaced by the Counter Terrorism Act, Minister Swaminathan said that the trials currently pending under the PTA will be dealt with in the future, under the Counter Terrorism Act.

Speaking further he informed the House that 112 files with regard to cases under the PTA were sent to the Attorney General’s Department for advice and 108 cases out of them were concluded by end of 2015.

He also noted that in 2016, 16 cases under the PTA have been received by the Attorney General’s Department for advice.

During this year 9 suspects detained under the PTA have been recommended for rehabilitation,27 have been discharged from proceedings and 7 indictments have been forwarded to the High Court.

Swaminathan also informed the House that commencing from November 11, 2015, up to date 39 suspects who were in remand custody for offences under the PTA, have been enlarged on bail with the sanction of the Attorney General.

Minister Swaminathan pointed out that further steps are being taken by the Attorney General’s Department to review and reconsider the Cases under the PTA and added that 3 such cases were concluded this month by reducing charges to facilitate the expeditious conclusion of trials.