Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath announced in Parliament that the government will move forward with gazetting the draft to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act by early September, marking a major policy shift in Sri Lanka’s legal and human rights landscape.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has confirmed that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will be repealed, with the draft to officially repeal the law set to be gazetted by early September.
Speaking in Parliament on the 22nd, the Minister emphasized that repealing the controversial law was a key commitment outlined in the government’s policy statement and assured that concrete steps are now being taken to deliver on that promise.
“The repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act is something that is clearly stated in our policy statement. We will take steps to gazette the draft repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act by early September,” the Minister said, addressing the House.
The PTA, long criticized by international human rights organizations and civil society groups, has been a focal point of debate in Sri Lanka for decades. Its repeal would represent one of the most significant legal reforms in recent years, signaling a shift towards stronger protections for civil liberties and compliance with global human rights standards.
The announcement is expected to draw both domestic and international attention as the government prepares to take the final legislative steps in dismantling the decades-old law.
