Lankan Assembly recalled to extend emergency ahead of polls

The constitution allows President Kumaratunga to re-summon a dissolved Assembly for the specific purpose of having emergency laws approved for a further period. The parliament was dissolved on August 18.

The President can impose emergency laws only for 10 days and thereafter must get parliamentary approval to keep the draconian laws going for one month at a time.

However, since parliament was dissolved last month and the first sitting of the new assembly is due only on October 18, the President was compelled to summon the old parliament which can function until the elections on October 10.

The emergency which was first imposed on May 18, 1983 gives wide powers to security forces and the police to arrest and detain suspects.

The laws had been relaxed for brief periods and limited to certain areas of the country from time to time.

The emergency is primarily aimed at dealing with the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in the island’s northeast but political parties have accused the government of using the laws to stifle political opponents.