November 13, Colombo (LNW): A special committee appointed to review Sri Lanka’s long-debated Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) has formally presented its recommendations to the Minister of Justice, Harshana Nanayakkara.
The submission marks a key step towards repealing the decades-old legislation, which has drawn widespread criticism from human rights groups for enabling prolonged detentions and restricting civil liberties.
The proposed reforms aim to introduce a more balanced framework that safeguards national security while ensuring greater protection of individual rights.
The report, prepared under the leadership of President’s Counsel Rienzi Arsakularatne, outlines a draft bill designed to replace the existing PTA with a new and more transparent legal structure.
The draft legislation, according to the Ministry of Justice, seeks to bring Sri Lanka’s counterterrorism measures in line with international standards and democratic principles.