Sri Lanka's Cabinet has approved a new 'Protecting the State from Terrorism Bill' designed to replace the decades-old Prevention of Terrorism Act, with the legislation now set for parliamentary consideration.
The Cabinet of Ministers has endorsed the proposed 'Protecting the State from Terrorism Bill', clearing the way for it to be published in the Government Gazette and subsequently presented to Parliament for formal approval. The new legislation is intended to supersede the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act of 1979, which authorities say contains legal gaps requiring modernization.
Development of the replacement bill followed a structured process involving specialist input. A technical expert committee was established to draft preliminary legislation, and the proposed bill was subsequently formulated based on their work. The Legal Draftsman's office prepared the final version, which received clearance from the Attorney General before reaching the Cabinet.
Cabinet approval came during a meeting on August 10, 2026, on the basis of a proposal by the Minister of Justice and National Integration. Once published in the Government Gazette, the bill will proceed through the parliamentary legislative process for consideration and passage. The proposed framework represents a significant update to Sri Lanka's counter-terrorism legal architecture, replacing a statute that has governed such matters for nearly five decades.
