Sri Lanka to gazette new anti-terrorism Bill and submit it to Parliament
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved the publication of the proposed Bill to Protect the State from Terrorism in the Government Gazette, paving the way for its submission to Parliament for debate and further scrutiny, Cabinet Spokesman and Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.
Speaking at the weekly Cabinet decision briefing at the Department of Government Information in Colombo on Tuesday (18), Jayatissa said the proposed legislation would be gazetted before being presented to Parliament.
Responding to a question on whether the draft had been revised in response to concerns raised over its provisions, the Minister said discussions on repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) had been continuing for a considerable period.
“There is no disagreement that the Prevention of Terrorism Act should be repealed,” Jayatissa said, adding that a replacement law would nevertheless be necessary to address terrorism and other forms of organized crime.
He said the government had therefore prepared the Bill to Protect the State from Terrorism, incorporating the necessary amendments, and would now proceed with its publication in the Gazette and submission to Parliament.
Jayatissa said the proposed legislation could be examined and discussed in greater detail once it was presented to Parliament.
The government’s move comes amid longstanding calls for the repeal of the PTA, which has faced criticism over its broad provisions and the manner in which it has been used to detain and prosecute suspects under national security laws.
-ENCL
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