The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called for further revisions to Sri Lanka’s draft Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA), saying additional changes are needed to ensure full compliance with international human rights law.
In a statement issued yesterday, the OHCHR welcomed several additional safeguards and improvements incorporated into the draft legislation but stressed that further amendments remain necessary.
Key areas requiring attention include clearly and narrowly defining terrorism-related offences, protecting legitimate freedom of expression and civic activities, and strengthening judicial oversight of arrests and detention.
The OHCHR also highlighted the need for stronger safeguards against torture and ill-treatment, enhanced due-process and fair-trial guarantees, effective oversight mechanisms and remedies, and maintaining the primacy of civilian police in law enforcement.
The human rights body raised concerns that the draft PSTA retains and expands several shortcomings found in the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and earlier proposed counter-terrorism legislation.
