Uproar over piece of legislation

The Sunday Leader
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Parliament sittings were adjourned yesterday due to an uproar over the Criminal Procedure Special Provisions Act that was presented to the House.

Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem presented the Criminal Procedure Special Provisions Act where the police under special circumstances could detain a suspect for 48 hours before producing the suspect before court.

Following the withdrawal of the emergency regulations, the police were able to detain a suspect for 24 hours without producing him to court under the general penal code. However, the new amendment would increase the period from 24 to 48 hours

Hakeem has said the new order would be effective for two years and that police could not detain a suspect over 48 hours under any circumstance.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has told parliament that the new order was an illegal move by the government.

UNP parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapaksa backing Wickremesinghe has said the government is trying to bring in the ordinance illegally through a gazette.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody suspended sessions for 30 minutes to discuss the issue and later adjourned parliament.

© The Sunday Leader