The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will be repealed by early September 2025 and replaced with new legislation to safeguard national security, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament yesterday.
Speaking during the adjournment debate on human rights issues faced by Tamils and Muslims in the North and East, Minister Herath stressed that the repeal was a commitment outlined in the National People’s Power (NPP) policy statement — not the result of external pressure.
A Gazette notification will be issued in September following the final report of a committee headed by President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsakularatne. The committee, appointed soon after the NPP assumed office, has already met multiple times and is expected to complete its recommendations by the end of August.
Highlighting the government’s broader agenda, Minister Herath said national unity among all communities — Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, and Malay — is vital for rebuilding the country’s economy. He emphasized that the NPP received a historic mandate from the North, East, and Estate sectors in the 2024 Presidential Election, demonstrating a collective trust in President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s leadership.
The government’s three-pronged policy focuses on eradicating poverty, digitalizing systems, and creating a clean Sri Lanka. Minister Herath said the NPP recognizes that historical inequalities and economic injustices contributed to conflict in the North and East, and pledged to address these root causes through reconciliation and inclusive development.
He further noted that the government has:
- Established an independent judiciary and police service free from political interference.
- Approved a five-year national reconciliation plan with UN support.
- Initiated the drafting of a new Constitution to reflect the will of all communities, to be passed following a referendum.
- Committed to upholding women’s rights in line with UN conventions.
“Our government has restored true democracy within a short period, taking all decisions in line with the Constitution while protecting Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity without bowing to external influences,” Minister Herath said.
