Civil Society, Activists and Trade Unions Urge Government to Withdraw New Anti‑Terror Bill

Sri Lanka Brief/Colombo, 30 December 2025 — A broad coalition of Sri Lankan civil society groups, academics, religious leaders, trade unions, former detainees and activists has issued a strongly worded appeal to Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTA).

In an open letter signed by 135 individuals and organisations, the signatories warn that the draft legislation—published on the Ministry’s website—represents an expansion, rather than an abolition, of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which the government had repeatedly promised to repeal.

“PTA+”: A Return to Repressive Powers

The letter expresses “alarm and disappointment” at the proposed PSTA, arguing that it strengthens executive powers, broadens the definition of terrorism, and threatens fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and political speech.

The signatories note that on 22 January 2025, Minister Nanayakkara told Parliament that the PTA would be abolished. This commitment, they say, was reiterated during a meeting with civil society organisations on 29 May, where the government also promised a white paper and a consultative process before drafting any new legislation.

“No such white paper has been made available,” the letter states, calling the omission a “deliberate ploy” by the National People’s Power (NPP) government to push the bill through despite public opposition.

Concerns Over Expanded Executive Authority

The letter outlines several key concerns regarding the PSTA:

• Expanded police and executive powers, including access to financial information and private communications of individuals who are not suspects.
• A widened definition of terrorism, which the signatories argue could criminalise speech, dissent, and political expression.
• Emergency-style powers, allowing the executive to proscribe organisations, declare prohibited places, impose curfews, and issue restriction orders.

The signatories warn that such provisions could “seriously threaten the freedom and safety of every citizen.”

A Call for Repeal, Not Replacement

The coalition argues that Sri Lanka “does not require a specialised terror law” at this point in its history and insists that both the existing PTA and the proposed PSTA must be discarded.

They call on the Minister to:

1. Withdraw the PSTA bill immediately, honouring the government’s election promise.
2. Introduce legislation to repeal the PTA, along with a moratorium on its use until repeal is complete.
3. Publish the promised white paper, explaining the government’s rationale for shifting its policy stance since the 2024 election.

A Broad and Diverse Coalition

The letter is endorsed by a wide spectrum of Sri Lankan society, including:

• Former PTA detainees
• Prominent academics from the Universities of Colombo, Peradeniya, and Jaffna
• Journalists and writers
• Feminist activists and human rights defenders
• Religious leaders from multiple faiths
• National and grassroots civil society organisations
• Major trade unions, including the Ceylon Teachers’ Union, the Joint Railway Employees Union, and the United Federation of Labour

A Renewed Debate on Security and Rights

The appeal comes amid renewed national debate on the balance between state security and civil liberties. Critics argue that the PTA’s legacy—marked by allegations of torture, arbitrary detention, and discrimination—continues to cast a long shadow over Sri Lanka’s justice system and reconciliation efforts.

The signatories emphasise that any new legislation must be preceded by transparent public consultation, especially given the “devastation wrought on the lives of individuals” under the PTA.

Full statement: 

30th December, 2025
 

Mr. Harshana Nanayakkara

Minister of Justice and National Integration

Ministry of Justice and National Integration

Colombo 12

Dear Minister Nanayakkara,

Withdraw the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTA)

We the undersigned people of Sri Lanka, social activists, members of mass movements and civil society, write to you with regard to the proposed Bill published on your Ministry’s website titled ‘Protection of the State from Terrorism’.

We read the aforestated Bill with alarm and disappointment.  On January 22nd, 2025 you made a statement in Parliament that the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) no: 48 of 1979, would be ‘abolished’, and the promise of abolishing this draconian law, has been a consistent policy position that your government has taken, both before and after assuming office. At a meeting held at your Ministry with members of civil society organisations on the 29th of May this year,  this promise was reiterated with the assurance that the new law would be subject to rigorous consultative processes commencing with the publication of a white paper.

The proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill is not an abolishing of the PTA, but an enhancement. It is PTA+. We the undersigned, and no doubt yourself too, are witnesses to the horrific legacy of the PTA. We fear terror laws and the terror it unleashes on ordinary people. It amounts to ruling by use of terror law. Ordinary citizens have had their lives devastated by the PTA, and the State is yet to recognize these wrongs and deliver repair and restoration. The PTA has been a tool for oppression, injustice, discrimination, racism, inequality and dictatorship. It undermined the Rule of Law, Democracy and has created deep divisions in our society, which ironically your Ministry on National Integration is now attempting to address.

A white paper would have given an opportunity for the government to clearly lay out for public discussion the motivation(s) for an anti-terror law at this point in time, and the rationale for the extraordinary provisions and aggrandizement of executive power that is being sought. Most importantly, this would have helped the public to have informed deliberations on whether the serious curtailment of fundamental freedoms and liberties of citizens had any rationale. A white paper was promised, and is yet not available.

This seems to be a deliberate ploy by the National People’s Power (NPP) Government, to either pass this Bill despite strong opposition, or if protests intensify and the Bill has to be withdrawn, that the existing PTA remains intact. Therefore, we clearly state that both the proposed PSTA bill and the existing PTA, must be thrown out.

The government rushing in with a bill has deprived the citizens of having a national conversation on the need for such a draconian law in the first place. We strongly believe that it is a necessary step to foreground any discussion on the technicalities of the provisions, if indeed a law is needed. This prior deliberation is particularly needed given the devastation wrought on the lives of individuals, to the rule of law in the country, as well as to national reconciliation.

It is our considered view that Sri Lanka at its present point in history, does not require a specialised terror law, nor require the continued operation of the PTA, and certainly does not require the PTA+ in the form of the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill.

The Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill is a serious threat to the freedom and safety of every citizen in this country. 

(i) The Executive has more power under this proposed Bill than before. Not only is every Police officer now entitled to exercise powers and trigger this specialised law, the Executive has more power to obtain information from banks and financial institutions and access private communication of persons who are not even suspects.

(ii) It has broadened the scope for the exercise of these broad powers, with a widened definition of terrorism and in particular has broadened the scope of committing the offence of terrorism by the use of words and expressions and thereby seriously threatening the freedom of speech, and in particular political speech.

(iii) The draft continues to empower the Executive with emergency type broad power to proscribe organisations, establish prohibited places, obtain restriction orders and order curfews by mobilising the broad language of terrorism.

Therefore we as citizens and victims of the PTA call on you forthwith to;

• Uphold your election promise of abolishing the PTA, and withdraw this bill with immediate effect
• Introduce a bill for the repeal of the PTA, and effect a moratorium on the use of the PTA till such time the Act is repealed
• Place before the public a white paper outlining why an extraordinary law is required at this point in time, explaining the Government’s reasons for the shift in policy of the NPP, that people voted it to power in 2024.

Signatures;

Individuals

1. Ajitha A. – Vallamai Traveler
2. Anithra Varia
3. Anuratha Rajaretnam
4. Anushaya Collure
5. Arjuna Parakrama, Professor Emeritus, University of Peradeniya
6. Ashila Dandeniya
7. B. Gowthaman
8. Balasingham Skanthakumar
9. Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe
10. C. Tozer
11. Chaminda Dias
12. Channaka Jayasinghe
13. Chanu Nimesha
14. Chintaka Rajapakse
15. Christopher Stephen
16. D.B.S. Jeyaraj – Journalist
17. Dayapla Thiranagama – Political Activist
18. Dhanusha Pathirana
19. Dr. Mahendran Thiruvarangan – University of Jaffna
20. Dr. Ramila Usoof – University of Peradeniya
21. Dr. Ranil D. Guneratne
22. Dr. S. Jeevasuthan
23. Fahima Sahabdeen
24. G.S. Hashan Jeewantha – Former PTA detainee
25. Galwewa Siridhamma Himi – Political Activist and Former PTA detainee
26. Hejaaz Hizbullah – Attorney-at-Law and former PTA detainee
27. Hemalatha. K – Activist
28. Herman Kumara
29. Hussain shamil Imtiaz Ali
30. Inthumathy Hariharathamotharan
31. Jeewaratnam Sureshkumar (iPEN)
32. Joanne Senn
33. K. Nihal Ahamed
34. Kalani Subasinghe
35. Kandiah Rasaledsumi
36. Kandiah Rasaledsumi
37. Kounthini R. – Vallamai Traveler
38. Kungiraman Madawan
39. Kusal Perera – Journalist
40. Kuvenitha S.
41. Lavina Hasanthi Perera
42. Lionel Peiris
43. M.F.M. Fazeer – Journalist
44. Maithreyi Rajasingam
45. Mario Gomez
46. Marisa de Silva
47. Mariyarosari S. – Activist
48. Melani Gunathilaka
49. Nagulan Nesiah
50. Nicola Perera – Colombo University
51. Nirmala M. – Activist
52. Nirmala T.
53. Niththika S. – Artist
54. Nivanthini S. – Vallamai Traveler
55. P.M. Mujeebur Rahman, LLB – Journalist
56. P. Muthulingam
57. P.N. Singham
58. Pasan Jayasinghe
59. Priyantha Gamage – Attorney-at-Law
60. Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda – University of Colombo
61. Prof. Shamala Kumar – University of Peradeniya
62. Prof. Sumathy Sivamohan – University of Peradeniya (Retd.)
63. Rahman A.
64. Rajany Rajeswary – Feminist Activist
65. Rajkumar Rajeevkanth
66. Raveendran V.
67. Rev. A. John
68. Rev. A. Stephen
69. Rev. Fr. Jeevantha Peiris
70. Rev. Fr. M. Sathivel
71. Rev. Fr. M. V. E. Ravichandran – University of Jaffna
72. Rev. G. Manoruben
73. Rev. I. Rajkumar
74. Rev. J. Sathies Crispus
75. Rev. S. D. P. Selvan
76. Rev. S. John
77. Rev. Sr. Deepa Fernando
78. Ruki Fernando – Former PTA detainee, human rights activist and writer
79. Sabra Zahid
80. Sadique Salih
81. Sandun Thudugala
82. Sarah Salih
83. Sarala Emmanuel – Feminist Activist
84. Sarankan K.
85. Saththiyaseelan K. – Activist and Artist
86. Sellaiya Sathishkumar – Former PTA detainee
87. Selvaraja Rajasegar – Editor, Maatram.org
88. Shamini V. – Activist
89. Sheila Richards
90. Shreen Saroor – Rights Activist
91. Siritunga Jayasuriya – General Secretary, United Socialist Party (USP)
92. Subathray Yogasingham
93. Suganthini S.
94. Sujatha J.
95. Sunanda Deshapriya – Journalist, Writer and Human Rights Activist
96. Sunthareswaran S. – Activist, Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF)
97. Thasneema Dahlan – Social Activist /Educationist
98. Thayalini J.  
99. Thileepan S. – Social activist
100. Tisaranee Gunasekara
101. V. Weerasingham
102. Ven. Fr. Samuel J. Ponniah
103. Visaka Dharmadasa
104. Wasantha Mudalige – Political Activist and Former PTA detainee

Organisations/Movements

1. Alliance for Minorities
2. Human Elevation Organisation (HEO)
3. Institute for People Engagement and Networking (iPEN)
4. Institute of Social Development (ISD)
5. International Centre for Ethnic Studies
6. Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF)
7. Law and Society Trust (LST)
8. Mannar Women’s Development Federation (MWDF)
9. Movement for Land and Agrarian Reform (MONLAR)
10. Movement for People’s Council (MPC)
11. Muslim Women Development Trust (MWDT)
12. National Fisheries Solidarity Organization (NAFSO)
13. People’s Alliance for Right to Land (PARL)
14. Stand Up Movement Lanka
15. Vallamai, Movement for Social Change
16. Viluthu
17. Voice Of The Plantation People Organization (VOPP)
18. Women’s Action Network (WAN)

Trade Unions

1. A.M.S.D. Perera – President, All Ceylon Telecommunication Employees Union
2. Amila Sandaruwan – Joint Teachers Service Union
3. D.G.N.U.K. Jayarathna – Joint Railway Employees Union
4. Dammika Munasinghe – Joint Development Officers Centre
5. Devinda Kodagoda – Private Workers Centre
6. Duminda Nagamuwa – Workers Struggle Centre
7. Joseph Stalin – General Secretary, Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU)
8. K.N.P. Fernando – Joint Nursing Service Union
9. Marx Prabagar – Plantation Workers Centre
10. Swasthika Arulingam – President, United Federation of Labour (UFL)
11. Tempitiye Sugathananda himi – Joint Health Workers’ Union
12. Tharindu Uduwaragedara – Journalist and General Secretary, Federation of Media
           Employees Trade Unions
13. Y.B. Jayasekara – Joint Water Supply Workers Union