Saliya Pieris says constitutional protections must apply equally as concerns grow over PTA, ICCPR Act, and Emergency Regulation misuse.
Saliya Pieris has called for equal constitutional protections for every individual, warning that detention laws in Sri Lanka must not be applied selectively depending on the person involved or the allegations they face.
The prominent lawyer and former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka made the remarks while raising renewed concerns over the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act, and Emergency Regulations.
In a statement shared on social media, Pieris said legal activists and civil society groups had, for many years, consistently condemned the misuse of such laws by successive governments.
He noted that these legal provisions had often been used to keep people in custody for long and unnecessary periods, depriving them of liberty and fundamental rights.
Pieris further warned that the misuse of detention laws had also contributed to a wider culture of torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment within police and prison custody.
He argued that decisions on detention should be made by judges acting according to law, not by executive authorities such as Presidents, Ministers, Secretaries, or police officers.
Reflecting on recent developments, Pieris observed that some individuals who had previously defended and implemented these laws were now facing the same legal provisions themselves.
He also noted that some who had once called for the repeal of such laws later went on to use and rely on them when in positions of power.
However, Pieris stressed that the principles involved go beyond individual personalities, political loyalties, or the accusations made in any particular case.
He maintained that every person is entitled to human dignity, equal protection under the law, and the freedoms guaranteed by Article 11 of the Constitution.
“The protections afforded by the Constitution cannot change depending on the individual concerned,” Pieris said, emphasizing that constitutional safeguards must be applied equally, consistently, and without discrimination.
