Sri Lanka's Cabinet has authorized the introduction of the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill to Parliament, marking a significant step toward replacing existing counter-terrorism frameworks with updated legislation.
The Sri Lankan Cabinet has granted approval to present the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill to Parliament, establishing a new legal framework to address terrorism-related threats in the country. The proposal, submitted by Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, received Cabinet clearance and has been authorized for publication in the Government Gazette.
The new legislation emerges from a systematic review of the existing Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, which authorities identified as containing structural weaknesses. To address these shortcomings, a technical experts' committee was established to develop an improved legislative framework. Following the committee's recommendations and the subsequent draft preparation by the Legal Draftsman's Department, the bill received clearance from the Attorney General before Cabinet approval.
The move represents an effort to modernize Sri Lanka's counter-terrorism legal infrastructure, incorporating recommendations from specialized technical experts into the new framework. The bill now enters the parliamentary stage, where lawmakers will consider its provisions related to terrorism-related offences and national security matters. The specific details of how the new legislation differs from the existing temporary provisions act remain to be disclosed as the parliamentary process unfolds.
