Sri Lanka's Cabinet has endorsed the draft 'Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill' for parliamentary submission, marking a move to replace the decades-old Prevention of Terrorism Act that has faced longstanding criticism over detention practices and broad definitions.
Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers has approved publishing the draft 'Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill' in the Government Gazette ahead of parliamentary consideration, according to minister Nalinda Jayatissa. The new legislation is designed to supersede the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act dating back to 1979, following recommendations from a Technical Expert Committee.
The proposed replacement comes after the National People's Power, which currently holds government, explicitly pledged to eliminate the PTA during their election campaign. The party's manifesto committed to "abolition of all oppressive acts including the PTA and ensuring civil rights of people in all parts of the country." However, the government maintains that entirely removing counter-terrorism legislation poses risks to national security and public order.
Critics have raised persistent concerns about the existing PTA framework, particularly regarding extended detention without formal warrants, the acceptance of confessions in legal proceedings, and expansive definitions of terrorism that could encompass legitimate public demonstrations. Minister Jayatissa contended that the new bill addresses these grievances while preserving essential security measures. "This Bill has been drafted in a manner that covers all of this: to protect the democratic freedoms and fundamental human rights of the people, as well as to prevent terrorism including organized crimes," he stated.
According to Jayatissa, while broad consensus has existed for many years to repeal the PTA, lawmakers determined that a contemporary legal framework remains necessary to combat organized crime and safeguard state security. The Attorney General has cleared the Legal Draftsman's bill, following initial Cabinet approval granted on August 10.
