A broad coalition of civil society groups in Sri Lanka is demanding the immediate and unconditional repeal of the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
The groups denounced the government’s proposed replacement legislation as neither representative nor necessary, according to a report by AsiaNews.
In a joint letter submitted to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration, more than 240 signatories — including activists, lawyers, union leaders, clergy, academics, and former detainees — rejected the government’s plan to replace the PTA with a new anti-terror law, saying the process lacked transparency and failed to include victims or representatives from the Tamil and Muslim communities.
“The committee that drafted it is not representative of mainstream interests – it comprises mostly state officials, military and Ministry of Defence personnel, and does not include the families of the victims, nor any representation from the Tamil or Muslim community,” the letter read.
The appeal comes in response to a May 16 public announcement seeking feedback on the repeal of the PTA and the introduction of a new draft. Citizens were given just two weeks to respond.
In use since 1982, the PTA has long been criticized by human rights groups for enabling arbitrary detention and targeting minorities.
Civil society leaders said the law has disproportionately affected Tamil and Muslim communities, southern youth during the 1988–1989 insurrection, and student leaders in the recent “Aragalaya” protest movement.
“The damage caused by the PTA to Sri Lanka’s political culture is irremediable,” the signatories wrote, arguing it has served “to protect the authoritarian interests of the state.”
Describing the law as “draconian,” the statement pointed to existing legal mechanisms already in place to address terrorism-related offenses, including provisions in the Penal Code and agencies such as the Counter-Terrorism Investigation Division (CTID), the National Intelligence Service, and the Central Bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit.
“There is no need for a replacement anti-terrorism law,” the letter emphasized.
The appeal also echoed the 2022 finding by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka that the PTA is “fundamentally incompatible with the rule of law.”
The signatories outlined five key demands: the full repeal of the PTA; a moratorium on its implementation until it is formally abolished; a guarantee that new legislation will not restrict freedoms of movement, assembly, or protest; expedited legal or political remedies — including presidential pardons — for current detainees; and reparations for those detained without conviction, including apologies, compensation, medical care, and livelihood support.
The People’s Council Movement, which emerged from the 2022 mass protests that led to the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is among the groups behind the appeal. The Law & Society Trust (LST), a legal advocacy NGO, also backed the call.
“It is time to dismantle oppressive laws and rebuild with dignity, fairness and accountability,” LST said in a statement.
The National Shoora Council (NSC) likewise urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to uphold his campaign promise to repeal the PTA without introducing a replacement.
On May 20, the Jaffna Bar Association reiterated its demand for the law’s immediate repeal, arguing that Sri Lanka’s existing Criminal Procedure Code is sufficient to address threats to public safety.
Despite mounting pressure, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara defended the government’s position, saying the legislation remains vital in the current global context.
“This law is not intended to be used for suppression on the basis of racism, religio, or any other issue,” Nanayakkara said. “This law is essential to address the challenges of global terrorism.”
