Protests demanding release of persons held under PTA

( August 8, 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) At least two protests were organised by National Movement for Release of All political Prisoners in Colombo and Jaffna today demanding the release of prisoners detained under draconian Prevention of Terrorism Law (PTA).

Observing fourth death anniversary of M.Dilruxan who was killed in Vavuniya prisons in 2012, the relatives of detained prisoners and members of civil society urged the government to abolish the current PTA law as agreed in the UN resolution which was passed at the Human Rights Council last year. Activists, relatives of the prisoners and local politicians took part in the protest.

Meanwhile, some political prisoners detained in Anuradhapura prison commenced a one-day identical hunger strike today requesting the government to fast track their pending cases or release them immediately.