Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Refuses the Move to Repeal Prevention of Terrorism Act

02-12-2021

Sarah Thanawala

Sri Lanka and Human Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

In a meeting with the Sri Lankan Collective for Consensus (SLCC), a civil society organization, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris declined the move to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 1979 (PTA) due to “security reasons” (Tamil Guardian, 2021a). The Foreign Minister heads the Ministerial Subcommittee on amending the PTA and thereby suggested amendments to the Act, such as a more “restricted” use (Tamil Guardian, 2021a). The Government’s refusal to repeal the law, despite pressure from the international community, including the European Union, indicates the intention to sideline the protection of the human rights of minorities in Sri Lanka (Tamil Guardian, 2021a). 

Furthermore, on 30 November 2021, the United Nations Committee Against Torture pointed out that Sri Lanka failed to submit its report by the deadline (Tamil Guardian, 2021b). To meet the Committee’s function of monitoring the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, all State Parties are required to submit their reports every four years (Tamil Guardian, 2021b). Sri Lankan minorities continue to be arbitrarily detained and tortured under the guise of the PTA (Tamil Guardian, 2021b). 

Sources and further reading:

Tamil Guardian (2021a, December 1). Sri Lanka refused to repeal draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act. Tamil Guardian. https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/sri-lanka-refused-repeal-draconian-prevention-terrorism-act 

Tamil Guardian (2021b, December 1). Sri Lanka misses deadline to submit report to the UN Committee against Torture. Tamil Guardian. https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/sri-lanka-misses-deadline-submit-report-un-committee-against-torture