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Proposed counterterrorism law raises fears of continued abuse

2026-01-20

Sri Lankas proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Act PSTA has sparked concern that it could replicate the abuses associated with the longstanding Prevention of Terrorism Act PTA.

The draft law, published in December 2025, is intended to replace the PTA, which since 1979 has enabled arbitrary detention and torture, particularly affecting Tamils, Muslims, and government critics. Despite Sri Lankas 2017 commitment to repeal the PTA as part of its GSP obligations to the European Union, rightscompliant reform remains unrealized.

Human Rights Watch warned that the proposed law contains vague and overly broad definitions of terrorism that could criminalize political activism and speech.

Ridding Sri Lanka of its abusive Prevention of Terrorism Act is long overdue, but this proposed law includes numerous provisions that would allow the authorities to commit the same abuses, said Meenakshi Ganguly, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch.

The bill also allows prolonged detention without charge and grants sweeping powers to security forces, raising renewed concerns about arbitrary detention and repression under a rebranded legal framework.