Even unlawful second marriages could fall under proposed organized crime law: FSP

The Island reports that SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa cautioned that the proposed Organised Crime Prevention Bill could lead to practices like those associated with Sri Lanka’s 1988–89 period. Newswire separately reports that he questioned the proposed law and warned of a return to that era.

Newswire reports that the Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill was submitted to Parliament on October 20. Its report begins to outline the government’s position but does not provide the details in the available text.

Newswire reports that Frontline Socialist Party Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda raised objections at a media briefing to the range of conduct covered by the proposal. He said the bill describes an organised criminal group as three or more people acting in a structured way to commit listed offences for financial or other material gain. He questioned the inclusion of unlawful second marriages, copyright breaches, gambling without a licence and activities prohibited in protected forests. Hiru News also reports that the FSP expressed concerns about the proposal’s scope.

Newswire reports that Jayagoda was concerned that clothing, hairstyles, gestures, language and tattoos associated with criminal groups could be considered when deciding whether someone belongs to one. He questioned how the provision could apply to people who already have tattoos. He also warned that the rules on obstructing police could be used against protesters or members of the public who intervene in alleged police misconduct, and called for closer examination of the bill.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.