New anti-terrorism Bill poses grave threat to people's rights, says Samathuva Kadchi

25-Oct-2026

.

Samathuva Kadchi has strongly condemned the Government for pressing ahead with the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Act, despite warnings and opposition from various quarters that the proposed legislation is far more draconian than the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) previously in force in the country.

This was stated by the party's General Secretary and former Member of Parliament, M. Chandrakumar.

In a special media statement issued in this regard, he stated:

If the Government enacts this law, the people of the country will be pushed from the frying pan into the fire.

The proposed legislation would seriously threaten freedom of expression and the activities of civil society, while placing the country's democratic framework itself in question.

At the international level, organisations such as the United Nations, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have raised concerns. Locally, human rights organisations, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, among other key stakeholders, have continued to voice their opposition to the Bill. Furthermore, more than 25 petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the proposed legislation.

Despite such widespread opposition, the Government's determination to proceed with the Bill would seriously undermine the fundamental rights of the people.

Before coming to power, members of the present Government took to the streets and protested against the former Prevention of Terrorism Act. However, their present eagerness to introduce legislation even more draconian than the law they opposed exposes their double standards and hypocrisy.

Therefore, Samathuva Kadchi has urged the Government to abandon this human-rights-violating Bill, which would undermine democracy and suppress the fundamental rights of the people, the statement further said.