The Cabinet has approved the publication and subsequent tabling in Parliament of the new bill aimed at addressing shortcomings in Sri Lanka’s existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Protection of the State from Terrorism Act,” has been drafted to introduce a new legal framework addressing shortcomings identified in the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979.
A technical expert committee was previously appointed to prepare a preliminary draft addressing shortcomings in the existing law.
Based on that draft, Cabinet granted policy approval at its Aug. 10, 2026 meeting to introduce the new legislation.
The bill, subsequently prepared by the Legal Draftsman, has now received clearance from the Attorney General, the government said.
Cabinet has approved publishing the bill in the Government Gazette before presenting it to Parliament for approval, Minister Jayatissa said. (Newswire)