Sri Lanka's Cabinet has approved an amendment to the Community-Based Corrections Act aimed at strengthening enforcement mechanisms against repeat offenders. The bill now moves toward parliamentary consideration after receiving attorney general clearance.
The Cabinet of Ministers has endorsed a proposal to amend the Community-Based Corrections Act, No. 46 of 1999, with the objective of enhancing the legal framework for managing individuals who commit offences repeatedly. The decision follows an initial Cabinet approval granted on April 7, 2025, which authorized updates to the Act's provisions to enable stricter enforcement against recidivist offenders.
Following the initial approval, the Legal Draftsman's office prepared the amendment bill and submitted it for review. The draft legislation has since received clearance from the Attorney General's office, satisfying legal and procedural requirements ahead of parliamentary submission.
The Cabinet has now formally approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to publish the Community-Based Corrections (Amendment) Bill in the Government Gazette. This publication marks the final step before the measure is presented to Parliament for legislative consideration and potential enactment. The amendment is intended to modernize the 1999 legislation and provide authorities with more effective tools to address patterns of reoffending within Sri Lanka's criminal justice system.