Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday that the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill, which replaces the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), retains provisions that have enabled serious rights violations.
The rights group said the Bill, due to be sent to Parliament on 6 October, has an overbroad definition of terrorism, inadequate judicial oversight and sweeping powers of search and arrest for the armed forces. It also said it gives the executive authority to curtail freedom of speech, assembly, association and movement.
“The proposed law will allow similar abuses, breaching Sri Lanka’s obligations under international law and jeopardizing its EU trade benefits,” said Elaine Pearson, HRW’s Asia director.
The Bill states that protest, advocacy, dissent, industrial action and humanitarian and medical assistance are not offences. HRW said this does not address the risks in other clauses.
The PTA was enacted in 1979. The government’s National People’s Power alliance pledged in its 2024 manifesto to abolish it. Sri Lanka’s EU trade concessions under GSP+ are linked to human rights conditions.
The Bill goes to Parliament on 6 October.
