Sri Lanka has taken another step towards introducing a new law aimed at preventing individuals from travelling abroad to join terrorist groups or participate in terrorist activities.
The Prevention of Foreign Terrorist Fighters Bill has received approval from the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations.
The Bill was approved during a recent committee meeting chaired by MP Lakmali Hemachandra, following an extensive discussion.
According to Parliament, the proposed legislation aims to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 2178, adopted in September 2014, which seeks to prevent and suppress threats posed by foreign terrorist fighters.
Officials explained that the proposed law would cover several terrorism-related offences, including engaging in, planning, preparing for or participating in terrorist activities, as well as providing or receiving terrorist training.
The legislation would also allow legal action to be taken in Sri Lanka for certain terrorism-related offences committed overseas by Sri Lankan citizens or foreign nationals, subject to the conditions specified in the proposed law.
During the committee discussion, officials emphasised that the legislation was not intended to target Sri Lankans living overseas on the basis of ethnicity.
However, MP Sivagnanam Shritharan expressed his opposition to the Bill, despite the committee granting its approval.
The Bill was originally presented to Parliament for its First Reading on October 20 by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.
Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Attorney General’s Department and Legal Draftsman’s Department participated in the discussions.
The Bill must still complete the remaining parliamentary process before it can become law. (Newswire)
