The government has gazetted a new bill titled the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill, proposing a new legal framework to address terrorism and related offences in Sri Lanka.
The proposed legislation aims to protect Sri Lanka’s national security and its people from acts of terrorism and other terrorism-related offences, including specified acts committed both within and outside the country.
The bill also includes provisions to prevent the use of Sri Lankan territory or its people in preparations for terrorist acts committed outside Sri Lanka.
It sets out procedures for the detection, identification, apprehension, arrest and detention of persons suspected of terrorism or related offences, as well as provisions relating to their investigation, prosecution and punishment.
A key provision of the proposed legislation is the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 48 of 1979, commonly known as the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
The bill was ordered to be published by the Minister of Justice and National Integration and has now been gazetted for consideration as proposed legislation.
