Sri Lanka to replace PTA with State Protection from Terrorism Bill

Tuesday August 18, 2026

ECONOMYNEXT — Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved publishing the draft ‘Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill’ in the Government Gazette and submitting it to Parliament for final approval, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

The new draft legislation aims to replace the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA), No. 48 of 1979.

The proposal was submitted following the work of a Technical Expert Committee appointed to prepare the preliminary draft.

The Cabinet initially granted in-principle approval on August 10, and the Legal Draftsman’s bill has now received official clearance from the Attorney General.

Reporters raised concerns regarding previous criticisms of the PTA, including prolonged detention without warrant, the admissibility of confessions as evidence, and broad definitions of terrorism that could affect public protests.

Jayatissa claimed the bill incorporates safeguards while maintaining national security.

“This Bill has been drafted in a manner that covers all of this: to protect the democratic freedoms and fundamental human rights of the people, as well as to prevent terrorism including organized crimes,” Jayatissa said.

Jayatissa’s party, the National People’s Power (NPP) came to power explicitly promising to scrap the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

On page 129 of their election manifesto, A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life, the NPP pledged the “Abolition of all oppressive acts including the PTA and ensuring civil rights of people in all parts of the country.”

Jayatissa claimed that while a broad public consensus has existed for decades to repeal the PTA, a modern legal framework remains essential to tackle organized crime and protect state security. (Colombo/Aug18/2026)