The Parliament has approved the extension of the some of the provisions of the state of emergency with 132 votes in favour and 14 against. Hence the new Parliament approved the emergency extension with a majority of 118 votes.

Only TNA MPs voted against the extension. The lone UNP member, M C M Cader voted with the government while the other UNP members were not present in the House.

Earlier the government announced its decision to relax the emergency regulations by removing some of the clauses that were not required since the situation in the country has vastly improved.

The government announced in parliament the relaxation of provisions of several emergency regulations. They include withdrawal of the provision with regard to the imposition of curfews and those requiring householders to give information about inmates as well as the powers given to security forces personnel to enter private properties for search operations.

The government has relaxed the provisions that dealt with propaganda activities, printing of documents and distributing them in support of terrorism. The government has done away with the cluster of emergency regulations that restricts processions and meetings that were considered detrimental to the national security. Any residual problems in this regard could be dealt with under the police ordinance.

The government had relaxed the emergency regulation that put imperative obligations on house owners to provide information about their inmates. The provision that gave powers to security forces to enter into private properties used in connection with offenses too had been done away with.

External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris said that such measures had been introduced to curb terrorism and they were not necessary now. However, the security forces would continue to enjoy police powers to deal with ongoing investigations into terrorist activities.
Prof. Peiris said that curfew restricted the liberty of people but it was essential for security forces during times of war to conduct military operations successfully.

He said the government had dispensed with the provisions that exempted the security forces from certain laws such as motor traffic regulations.
"We do not believe that there is a need to continue with those particular regulations. The situation in the country is settled," Prof Peiris said.