Sri Lanka Bar Association urges withdrawal of proposed security bills

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has issued a public demand for the government to immediately withdraw two proposed pieces of legislation: the bill to protect the state from terrorism and the bill to prevent organized crime.

Rajeev Amaraseuri, President of the Bar Association, stated that these bills raise significant concerns regarding freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of movement, and the rule of law. The Association warned that the proposed laws could grant the executive branch broad powers for arrest and detention while weakening judicial oversight and fundamental rights.

Drawing parallels to the 1979 Prevention of Terrorism Act, the Association noted that while such measures are often introduced as temporary, they have historically been used for decades to detain citizens without trial and suppress dissent. The Association emphasized that while combating terrorism and organized crime is a government responsibility, legal frameworks must not undermine constitutional protections or individual liberties.