Eran Wickramaratne

JUSTICE FOR ALL 07th February 2026 Justice for All calls for the Repeal of the PTA and NO to the PSTA Sri Lanka is yet again confronted with renewed debates on the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and replacement legislation with the latest being the introduction of the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA). At the outset Justice for All questions the government’s failure to honour its campaign promise of repealing the PTA. This is against a backdrop of abuse over four decades that has contributed to a culture of impunity, with fears that any replacement law will further entrench such practices. In such a context, Justice for All opposes the PSTA and reiterates its demand for the immediate repeal of the PTA. The decades long demand for the repeal of the PTA witnessed a surge in support in the wake of the Aragalaya. These sentiments were captured in an all island signature campaign initiated by Justice for All which received wide support for the abolishment of this draconian law. Furthermore, this campaign received support from all opposition parties at the time including from individuals in the present government. Thus, the shift in position- from repeal of the PTA to introducing a new law that is far worse to what it attempts to replace- is not only disappointing but begs the question whether the debates around a replacement law is an attempt by some in government to persist with using the PTA. The following, whilst not exhaustive, are some key concerns with the PSTA- ● The PSTA significantly broadens the definition of terrorism and related offences that can result in abuse; ● The PSTA removes the sole minimum safeguard under the PTA that required arrests to be carried out or authorised by an officer of at least Superintendent rank, and provides broad powers of arrest to the police, military and coast guard; ● Powers of arrest and administrative detention including the power to keep an individual in detention and remand for up to two years; ● The PSTA vastly expands executive and security sector powers. For example, the PSTA provides broad powers to the President to proscribe organisations and impose curfew. It also allows Deputy Inspectors General of Police to apply for restriction orders to the Magistrate Court. Further, it provides the Secretary of Defence to declare prohibited places for up to 72 hours, extendable for a further 72 hours with judicial approval.The above are examples of the overbroad nature of the PSTA that entrenches powers for repression rather than dismantling it. In addition, we note that despite the promise to repeal the PTA and a ‘system change’, the government has continuously relied on the PTA, compounding fears of normalising the use of the PTA and the abusive practices associated with it. In such a context, we call for an immediate moratorium of the PTA sequenced by its repeal. We ask that victims of the PTA be heard and conscientious guarantees of non-recurrence are made. Finally, we urge the President, the Government, and the Opposition to demonstrate genuine political will and commitment towards upholding human rights and the rule of law with the aim of strengthening our democracy. Signed by: 1. Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda 2. Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, PC 3. Eran Wickramaratne 4. A M Faaiz 5. M. A. Sumanthiran PC 6. Bhavani Fonseka 7. Ermiza Tegal 8. Nadishani Perera 9. Jerusha Crosette – Thambiah 10. Ravinthiran Niloshan 11. Benislos Thushan

On International Clean Energy Day, I’m reminded that clean energy is not just about technology or policy—it’s about people, future generations, and the shared responsibility we have to protect our planet. Moving towards renewable and sustainable energy is essential for addressing climate change, strengthening our economies, and ensuring energy access that is fair and reliable for all. 2. Sri Lanka is one of the most vulnerable countries with climate change. The recent Ditwah cyclone may be a gentle reminder of far worse environmental disasters in the future. The rise in temperatures surounding our island over the next decade will have many implications for children, education , the home to industry and economy. 3. The growth of AI the demand for energy will grow exponentially. If clean energy - renewables, hydrogen-based and nuclear don't out pace the growth in fossil fuel–generated energy, the environmental disaster awaiting us will be alarming. Replacing fuel-powered transport with battery-powered engines is welcome ,provided the destruction of the electric batteries will result in minimum damage to the environment. 4. Let’s advocate for clean energy and do little acts that protect our environment. My sensitivity increased when my spouse took a decision 20 years ago that she will not allow a single tree in the mangrove she controlled to be cut. #CleanEnergyDay #CleanEnergy #environment #RenewableEnergy #climate parliament

Nihal Seneviratne, the former Secretary General of Parliament was an outstanding Civil Servant of high integrity. He is no more. When I became a Member of Parliament he was in retirement. He was a model to follow not only for government officials but for politicians too. I consulted him on matters of law,parliamentary practices and customs, and on ethical positions that went beyond the law. He was polite,soft spoken but unvevering in articulating his position. He will be missed. May this father’s legacy console the family. #parliament Sri Lanka #MP #SJB #good governance

Today marks International Human Rights Day. Sri Lanka has struggled with human rights violations for far too long. I firmly believe that we must stop comparing ourselves with others and seeking comfort in relative standards. It is time to set our own high standards as a proud nation.   We move forward only when we confront the past by:   • Strengthen investigations into murders • Empower the Office of Missing Persons • Identify those buried in mass graves and bring closure to families • End police torture and repeal the PTA   Truth, justice, redress, and reforms that guarantee non-recurrence must guide our path for the future as a nation.    In 2015, at the UNHRC, my late colleague Mangala Samaraweera charted a way forward through: • A Truth and Reconciliation Commission • A Special Court with special counsel • The Office of Missing Persons • The Office for Reparations   If the present government accepts the principles of transitional justice, we can  dim the pain, heal the wounds and stand strong as a country. This will move us towards a united Sri Lanka that truly cares for human rights and I am sure with that, the economy will leap with local and foreign direct investments which is most definitely the need of the hour. #TransitionalJustice #TruthAndReconciliation #OfficeOfMissingPersons #JusticeForAll #RuleOfLawSL #HumanRightsDay

Today is International Anti-Corruption Day. A decade ago, a small group of MPs including myself publicly declared our assets and liabilities. At that time, MPs submitted declarations to the Speaker, while Ministers submitted theirs to the President.This practice made Ministers beholden to the President, compromising independence and weakening accountability. If a citizen wished to access an assets declaration, they had to make a request to the Speaker and even then, the information could not be made public.  Two years ago, I presented a Private Member’s Bill to give the public direct access to the asset declarations of elected representatives and senior public officials. The last Parliament then incorporated these principles into the new Commission to investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Act. The new Act has provided the current government with a strong platform to pursue bribery and corruption. But investigations into corruption demand specialized skills. While the Police can effectively investigate crimes such as murder, corruption cases require expertise in finance, accounting, law, forensics, IT and more. CIABOC must be strengthened with professionals who possess these capabilities.  Despite being an independent commission, its budget remains inadequate. The government must prioritise increased funding in the next budget cycle.  Strengthening CIABOC is essential if we are serious about rooting out corruption as a nation and rebuilding trust in public institutions. #AntiCorruptionLK #GoodGovernanceLK #TransparencyLK #AccountabilityLK #CleanPoliticsLK #ReformSriLanka #SriLankaReforms

Today is the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. It is a moment to reflect on our responsibility to ensure equality, dignity and opportunity for every differently abled child and adult. The parents of a differently-abled child do not choose for their son or daughter to be blind, deaf, physically impaired, mentally challenged or autistic. I became deeply aware of their everyday struggles when the late Mr. S.K. Wickremasinghe, then Chairman of a Sri Lankan Bank, connected me with a parent who educated me on autism. At the time, I was serving as CEO of the Bank and as the Founder-Chairman of a non-profit school Board. We were faced with the reality that differently-abled children have a fundamental right to enter mainstream education. Despite reservations and objections, we made the decision to admit these children into the school. I remain committed to safeguarding this right. I will advocate for laws and regulations that guarantee every differently-abled child the opportunity to attend a mainstream school, if recommended by the medical authorities. As the government moves toward fulfilling its commitment to allocate 6% of GDP for education, this policy must be treated as a priority, ensuring that inclusion is not just spoken about, but meaningfully implemented with necessary investments to the education system. #Inclusion #DisabilityRights #InclusiveEducation #EducationForAll #DifferentlyAbled #ChildRights #SpecialNeedsEducation

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that rejecting Sri Lankan applicants from government jobs solely because their bachelor’s degree was awarded by a foreign university violates Article 12(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees equality. What matters is the quality of education, and graduates of foreign universities are equally valued citizens of Sri Lanka. #justice #education #EqualRightsForAll @sajithpremadasa @Dr_HariniA

my friend Lasantha Wickrematunge Sixteen years ago on 8th January 2009, I received a phone call that Lasantha was attacked and taken to the Kalubowila Hospital. I was not a politician then but a Banker and a friend of Lasantha. Each year on 8th January I visit Lasantha’s grave to remind myself and commit to the pursuit of justice. The tension that filled the air on the day of his funeral still surrounds some of us as there has been no justice or closure for his family and friends. It was widely believed and later supported by evidence that his exposure on corruption on the purchase of military aircrafts was connected to his murder. Lasantha was due to give evidence in court on 12th January in defense of his exposure on the MIG transaction undertaken by the Ministry of Defense, which may have exposed those in authority, But prior to his appearance in court Lasantha was murdered on 8th January 2009. Now we have a government comprising of individuals when in opposition, always argued for media freedom and the safety of media personnel. We live in expectation that investigations and the judicial process will move quickly in bringing justice and closure to his murder. January 8th reminds us that 34 journalist and media personnel have been murdered or gone missing in recent times. The vast majority of them were Tamil speaking. Many journalists were murdered or intimidated during the 26-year civil war between Government and Tamil Tiger rebels. 50 Year old cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda who went missing on 24th January 2010 two day’s before incumbent President Mahinda Rajapakse’s Election has yet to be found. Sandya Eknaligoda, Prageeth’s wife is still relentlessly pursuing Justice. Keith Noyahr , the Associate Editor of the Nation, was abducted and severely beaten before been released in 2008. Krishantha Cooray, Keith Noyahr’s boss, pursued justice and spoke out troubling those in Authority. Krishantha was forced to leave the country as authorities attempted to frame charges against him in another case.There are many who have been forced to flee the country because of exposures of corruption, poor governance and murder. Sri Lanka’s performance on media freedom as indicated in the World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders has deteriorated further within the past 5 years. The Online Safety Bill which was improperly forced through Parliament has been used by Government authorities to intimidate Journalist and social media activists. While we agree that there has to be media ethics, we need to establish a self-regulatory process rather than Government assuming that role. Let’s live in hope that the newly elected government whose members when in opposition were critical of attacks on media personnel and the Online Safety Bill, will protect the freedom of expression, media and social media activists and bring to justice those who have committed crimes, while promoting a democratic open society where every individual could live with dignity. @a_wickrematunga

Yesterday, I visited parliament and sat in the gallery as a citizen, to watch president @anuradisanayake deliver the government’s policy statement. It was a unifying, ambitious and stirring speech, and for that the president must be commended. I particularly agree with his words on governance, IMF, national harmony, and debt restructuring. However, there are many challenges ahead, especially on the economic front. Therefore, it's important to make the plans in the policy statement a reality. I wish him the best in that endeavour.

Thank you to all 38,837 people who voted for me. I have emerged in 5th position in the Colombo District from SJB. However, as the SJB won only 4 seats from Colombo, I have not been re-elected to parliament. My gratitude to everybody who supported my campaign. Congratulations to President @anuradisanayake @Dr_HariniA and @NPPSLOfficial for their historic victory and I wish you the strength and the conviction to fulfil the people's aspirations.

Happy to see Dr. Hans Wijeyasuriya and this team of professionals. Had the privilege of working with him 20 years ago when I was ICTA's Founder Chairman and he was a board member. I wish him and the Board all the best in digitalizing Sri Lanka's economy & public services.

Thank you for your support during the past few weeks of campaigning. I did not come from a political family. I am who I am today because of the opportunities provided to me. I strive to ensure that every Sri Lankan has the same opportunities. Therefore, I look forward to your support in this endeavour, to create a just and fair society. Vote for No 5 - Colombo District - Samagi Jana Balawegaya 5☎️❌ #EranWickramaratne #SamagiJanaBalawegaya #GeneralElection2024 #srilanka

Digitalization is critical. In the early 2000s, I led the creation of the e-Sri Lanka Project, funded by the World Bank. Then I became the founding chairman of ICTA. We need MPs who understand the importance of digitalization. Vote for No 5 - Colombo District - SJB 5☎️❌

The government has nominated many trade union leaders for parliament, who have a history of protesting on the streets and crippling industries. If they are made ministers, a trust gap will be created when attracting foreign investment. The NPP/JVP will need the SJB to be part of the government to bridge that trust gap, I said in an interview with The Sunday Morning. Vote for No 5 - Colombo District - Samagi Jana Balawegaya 5☎️❌ Read full article: themorning.lk/articles/bNaEV…

Spent an exciting and lively evening with the supporters and well-wishers of Colombo District, who asked questions, shared their views, and discussed their aspirations for a brighter, better Sri Lanka. Vote for No 5 - Colombo District - Samagi Jana Balawegaya 5☎️❌ #EranWickramaratne #GeneralElection2024 #srilanka

With my economics and banking background and political experience, I am confident I can help grow Sri Lanka's economy. My plan involves empowering the private sector to generate jobs, create wealth and boost exports, in addition to creating a social market economy and investing in our human capital. Vote for No 5 - Colombo District - Samagi Jana Balawegaya 5☎️❌

Met with the members and supporters of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya in the Moratuwa electorate earlier this week. #GeneralElection