It is interesting to note that in spite of the huge impact that the PTA has had on political life in Sri Lanka since its enactment in 1979, there has been no serious attempt to examine the multitude of issues it has raised. The publication on the Prevention of Terrorism Act of Sri Lanka by the centre for Human Rights and Development is an attempt to address that need. The collection of essays by well-known human rights advocates with varied experiences, provide interesting analyses and views from various perspectives. The essays are not limited to legal analysis – and with good reason. One essay is, in fact, by a victim of the PTA. The personal account, narrated in a matter-of-fact tone, is a chilling reminder of the enormous human cost of the PTA. It is a poignant statement of how futile such laws are in bringing an end to violence; on the contrary, it appears that such laws contribute to the continuation of cycles of violence.