Government May Have to Reintroduce Prevention of Terrorism Act, Says Minister

28-Oct-2026

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The Government is introducing new legislation to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), with the stated objectives of safeguarding human rights and ensuring national security. However, if legislation to protect the State from terrorism is not required, the Government may have to reintroduce the PTA, Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

The Minister also rejected as unreasonable the argument that the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Act would lead to the withdrawal of the GSP+ trade concession. He firmly stated that there was no likelihood of the concession being withdrawn on that basis.

He made these remarks at the weekly media briefing on Cabinet decisions held at the Department of Government Information in Colombo on October 27, 2026.

Elaborating further, he said:

“Our commitment was to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Accordingly, two new Bills are being introduced: the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill and the Bill to Combat Organised Crime. These Bills have been designed to safeguard international human rights while protecting ordinary people from organised crime.

“The laws have been drafted in accordance with internationally accepted definitions. They will apply to members of organised criminal groups, their accomplices, those who provide financial assistance and those who knowingly facilitate their activities. Therefore, ordinary members of the public who are unaware of organised criminal activities need not have any fear in this regard.

“These laws are being introduced to ensure national security and suppress the spread of organised crime across the country. There is no danger in replacing the old Prevention of Terrorism Act with democratic legislation of this nature. The proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill is not as dangerous as the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Nevertheless, if there is an argument that no legislation to protect the State from terrorism is necessary, we may have to reintroduce the PTA.

“The GSP+ trade concession was not withdrawn even when the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which contained harsh provisions, was in force. Therefore, the new Bill, which has been drafted to provide better safeguards, will not in any way affect the GSP+ concession,” he said.