Sri Lanka To Dismantles Controversial PTA, Pledges Stronger Legal Reforms

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka is preparing to repeal its long-criticized Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), signaling a new chapter in the country’s approach to national security, justice, and reconciliation.

Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath announced that the government has already taken decisive steps to dismantle the PTA, which has faced widespread criticism for its alleged misuse and disproportionate targeting of Sinhala individuals involved in drug and organized crime networks.

“There is no debate. The PTA will be repealed,” Herath stated firmly, emphasizing that the decision is rooted in Sri Lanka’s own policy framework—not external pressure from international bodies like the United Nations or its Human Rights Council.

A special legal committee, led by President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne, has been convened to finalize the necessary legal amendments. The committee has already met multiple times and is expected to complete its work by the end of August. The government plans to publish the draft repeal in the official gazette by early September.

While the PTA is being repealed, the government is simultaneously drafting a new, robust legal framework aimed at tackling organized crime and drug trafficking. This move is intended to fill the gap left by the PTA’s removal and ensure national security is maintained without compromising civil liberties.

In a significant step toward healing post-conflict wounds, the government is also moving forward with the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Herath revealed that this initiative was first proposed by his political movement on May 26, 2009, well before international calls for such a body emerged.

The commission will be supported by legal reforms and institutional mechanisms, including:

- A dedicated office for missing persons
- A compensation office for victims and families
- Strengthened processes for investigating mass graves, including the infamous Chemmani site, through impartial judicial action
-Respecting the Right to Remembrance—With Conditions

Herath affirmed the government’s commitment to respecting the right of families to commemorate lost loved ones, noting that many remembrance events have seen participation from Sinhalese, Tamils, and Muslims alike. 

However, he stressed that symbols and slogans of separatist movements will not be permitted, as they undermine national unity.