SL parliament extends state of emergency

The state of emergency was imposed in August last year after the assassination of then Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Sri Lankan parliament on Tuesday extended by another month the state of emergency imposed in August last year after the assassination of then Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, giving sweeping powers to security forces to arrest suspects.

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Tamil legislators kept up a boycott of Parliament as the assembly unanimously approved the tough laws, first imposed on August 13, a day after Kadirgamar was assassinated by a suspected Tamil Tiger.

"We are also not happy with the emergency, but we need it because of the security situation.... When the situation returns to normal, we will revoke it," the government's chief peace negotiator Nimal Siripala de Silva told the parliament.

The state of emergency, which gives sweeping powers to security forces to arrest or detain suspects, has been extended periodically since its imposition.

The constitution requires it to be approved by Parliament before it can be extended for a maximum period of one month at a time.