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5 clusters · 12 sources · 32 days · First seen · Last updated

Sri Lanka counter-terrorism legislative reform

Overview

The Sri Lankan government has moved to reform its counter-terrorism legal framework by gazetting the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill, intended to repeal and replace the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act of 1979. The new bill aims to address offences committed by citizens globally and acts targeting state property or diplomatic missions, defining terrorism as intentional acts designed to provoke public terror or compel government action.

As the transition progresses, the legislation has faced intense scrutiny. Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne informed Parliament that 40 constitutional petitions have been filed challenging the constitutionality of the bill, bringing the government’s approach under Supreme Court review. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has warned that the legislation, alongside the proposed Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill, could grant extraordinary powers of arrest, detention, and surveillance to the Executive while weakening judicial oversight.

BASL President Rajeev Amaraseuri has publicly demanded the government withdraw both security bills, stating they raise significant concerns regarding freedom of speech, assembly, movement, and the rule of law. Critics argue the broad definitions of offences may fail to distinguish between genuine terrorism and legitimate democratic expressions, such as peaceful protest or investigative journalism. These concerns mirror historical criticisms of the existing PTA, which has been frequently used to detain citizens without trial and suppress dissent.

Entities

Sri Lanka · Bar Association of Sri Lanka · Supreme Court of Sri Lanka · Anura Kumara Dissanayake · Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Sri Lanka Bar Association urges withdrawal of proposed security bills

    The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has called for the immediate withdrawal of proposed terrorism and organized crime bills, citing risks to fundamental rights and judicial oversight.

  2. [POLITICS] 5 sources
    Sri Lanka faces legal challenges over proposed terrorism and crime bills

    Forty constitutional petitions and warnings from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka challenge new terrorism and organized crime bills, citing risks to fundamental rights and judicial oversight.

  3. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Sri Lanka faces scrutiny over new anti-terrorism laws and political investigations

    Sri Lanka faces scrutiny over new anti-terrorism laws and a wave of investigations into former high-ranking political figures following recent elections.

  4. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Sri Lanka to table bill to repeal Prevention of Terrorism Act

    Sri Lanka is set to table a bill in Parliament to repeal the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) amid legal challenges regarding executive detention and civil liberties.

  5. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Sri Lanka gazettes Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill

    Sri Lanka has gazetted the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill to replace the 1979 PTA, introducing new frameworks for investigating and prosecuting terrorism-related offences globally.

Sources

asianmirror.lk · battinews.com · frontpage.lk · hindutamil.in · lankabusinessonline.com · lankanewspapers.com · lankanewsweb.net · newswire.lk · srilankabrief.org · srilankachronicle.com · tamilminutes.com · tamilmurasu.com.sg

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history