• Political activists, peoples’ organisations, TUs request the submission of white paper

Chairperson of the expert committee to draft the new Anti-Terrorism Bill, President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne stated that the committee’s work will be completed within the course of next month. 

This was confirmed by Arsecularatne when the committee convened at the Ministry of Justice. He also confirmed that the proposed amendments to the draft legislation are currently undergoing a second round of critical review.

With Cabinet approval, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara appointed the expert committee to repeal the current Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 48 of 1979 as amended (PTA) and to formulate new legislation. According to the ministry, the objective of introducing this new law is to address modern global terrorism challenges, while also upholding the human rights of individuals and aligning with internationally recognised standards.

Meanwhile, a group of political activists, organisations and peoples’ movements, and trade unions have written to Nanayakkara, requesting a white paper pertaining to the new law that seeks to repeal and replace the PTA.  

Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath, in his Parliamentary speech on 22 August, stated that the draft Bill to repeal the PTA would be published in the Government Gazette at the beginning of September 2025. However, the letter by the group noted: “No reference to a ‘white paper’ or subsequent public consultation was mentioned.” 

According to statistics provided by the National People’s Power Government to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights this year, there have been 49 arrests under the PTA, between January and 23 May, and 38 PTA arrests over the course of last year (2024). 

“This is a significantly high number of lives being ruined by the continued use of what we all, including the Government, agree is a draconian piece of legislation. We reiterate our position to repeal the PTA and not replace it with another anti-terror law. There are at least 15 laws in the existing criminal justice system, including Penal Code provisions, to address issues relating to 'terrorism'. Therefore, there is currently no necessity for any special law on terrorism. We wish to make the following demands: repeal the PTA as a separate legislative exercise; halt the publication of any new proposed anti-terror Bill in the Gazette, until the said ‘white paper’ on the need for any new anti-terror laws is published and widely consulted with the public; impose an immediate moratorium on the application of the PTA; expedite justice to all currently detained under the PTA through political and legal interventions, including Presidential pardons, the withdrawal of charges if there is no evidence to support or if the only or primary evidence is through confessions, and the release of those not charged yet; and ensure reparations by the State for those who were detained under the PTA and not convicted, including an acknowledgement, an apology, compensation, physical and mental healthcare and livelihood support, and the same to also be provided to the families of those who died in custody when detained under the PTA,” the letter emphasised.