Human Rights Watch (HRW) has expressed concern over Sri Lanka’s proposed counterterrorism legislation, warning that it retains many provisions similar to the highly criticized Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). 

The new bill, published by the Ministry of Justice in December 2025, aims to replace the older law but falls short of international human rights standards. 

HRW highlights that the draft law includes broad, vague definitions of terrorism, extensive powers of arrest and detention, and provisions that could suppress political activism and civil liberties. 

Despite promises by President Anura Kumra Dissanayake to abolish oppressive laws, the proposed legislation preserves measures that could facilitate arbitrary detention, torture, and intimidation of dissidents and civil society. 

HRW urges the government to adopt rights-respecting reforms through inclusive consultations and to fully comply with international obligations. 

The organization warns that continuing to use repressive counterterrorism laws threatens to undermine Sri Lanka’s commitments and exacerbate longstanding human rights violations.