July 21, Colombo (LNW): The Government is pressing ahead with efforts to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), with the replacement legislation having already secured the approval of the Cabinet-appointed committee, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament on Tuesday (21).
Addressing the House, the Minister said the process of replacing the long-standing law is being accelerated, adding that the PTA will be formally repealed once the proposed legislation receives all the required approvals and is enacted.
He described the development as an important milestone in the Government’s wider legal reform agenda, noting that the new framework is intended to replace the decades-old legislation with updated provisions that reflect current legal and constitutional standards.
Minister Nanayakkara also outlined the implications for individuals who have been held under the PTA for prolonged periods without their cases being heard. He said such detainees would be entitled to seek bail by filing applications before the relevant High Court once the new legal framework comes into effect.
The Minister emphasised that decisions on granting bail remain exclusively within the authority of the courts and are not determined by the Government. He reiterated that the judiciary operates independently and that any applications made by detainees would be considered in accordance with the law and judicial procedure.
The proposed repeal of the PTA has been the subject of long-standing public and international attention, with the Government indicating that the new legislation is intended to modernise Sri Lanka’s legal approach to national security while strengthening safeguards within the justice system.
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