Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a stark warning regarding Sri Lanka’s proposed counterterrorism legislation, alerting international observers and local civil society that the draft bill contains provisions that could lead to severe human rights abuses and further suppress peaceful dissent.
Key Highlights
- Human Rights Watch cautions that Sri Lanka’s draft counterterrorism law threatens civil liberties and democratic rights.
- Critics argue the bill includes overly broad definitions of terrorism, enabling the criminalization of peaceful protests and political opposition.
- Rights advocates urge the Sri Lankan government to align its national security framework with international human rights standards.
According to human rights monitors, the controversial draft legislation risks institutionalizing arbitrary detentions, expanding executive police powers, and undermining judicial oversight. The international rights watchdog stressed that key provisions retain the abusive elements of the long-criticized Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which has historically been weaponized against minority communities, journalists, and activists.
Civil society organizations and international bodies continue to press the Sri Lankan government to engage in genuine consultations with legal experts and human rights defenders to ensure that any future national security legislation fully respects constitutional freedoms and international law.