Sri Lanka rehabilitation bill leading to Rehab Camps?

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Civil & Political activists point out that the recently introduced bill to establish a Bureau of Rehabilitation paves the way to crack down on the Aragalaya protesters.

They allege that the bill will also allow Aragalaya Activists to be detained for a long period at Rehabilitation Camps.

Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe on the 23rd of September presented the bill titled Bureau of Rehabilitation.

The bill notes that the objective of the Bureau shall be to rehabilitate drug-dependent persons, ex-and misguided combatants, members of violent extremist groups, and any other group of persons who require treatments and rehabilitation by adopting various therapies in order to ensure effective reintegration and reconciliation, through developing socio-economic standards.

It also noted that the administration, management, and control of the affairs of the Bureau shall be vested in a Governing Council.

The Council shall consist of the Secretary or an Additional Secretary of Defence, Health, Education, and Rehabilitation.

It shall also consist of the Inspector General of Police or Deputy Inspector General of Police and a representative of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board.

In addition, the Minister of Rehabilitation shall appoint three members shall possess academic and professional qualifications and has experience in the fields of rehabilitation, social integration, and law and order, and the Minister reserved the right to appoint and remove the Chairperson of the council.

According to this bill, the Bureau will be vested with the power to direct any member of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Air Force, and the Sri Lanka Navy for rehabilitation.