Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has tabled a private members’ bill in Parliament seeking the swift repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), intensifying pressure on the government over what he describes as a broken election promise and the continued use of a law long condemned for enabling grave human rights abuses.
Presenting the bill, Rasamanickam called on Parliament to take immediate steps to expedite its passage, stressing that the country “wants this act gone.” He reminded lawmakers that the JVP–National People’s Power (NPP) government had pledged to repeal the PTA, a commitment reiterated during the 2024 election campaign, but has since failed to honour it.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rasamanickam said:
“Today I presented a private members bill seeking to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), a draconian law that has been weaponised against minorities, critics & others and entrenched a culture of impunity in Sri Lanka. Such a law has no place in a democracy & we must all stand united in its immediate repeal.”
He further warned that not only has the government continued to use the PTA, but it has now published a draft replacement law which he argues is even more dangerous.
“Alarmingly, the proposed draft to replace the PTA is worse than what it attempts to repeal,” Rasamanickam said, questioning whether the move was “another ploy by some to continue to keep the PTA and normalise a culture of fear and violence.”
Today I presented a private members bill seeking to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), a draconian law that has been weaponised against minorities, critics & others & entrenched a culture of impunity in #SriLanka. Such a law has no place in a democracy & we must all… pic.twitter.com/hG0o2ncUqQ
— Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam (@ShanakiyanR) February 5, 2026
The MP’s intervention comes amid mounting criticism from civil society and religious institutions, including the Church of Ceylon, which has strongly condemned the government’s move to introduce the Protection of State from Terrorism Bill (PSTB) as a replacement for the PTA.
In a statement, the Church of Ceylon noted that for 47 years, the PTA has been widely criticised for the abuse and misuse of state power, enabling the detention of dissenting voices, journalists, human rights defenders, and minority communities. It warned that the proposed PSTB risks reproducing the same patterns of repression, despite being presented as reform.
The Church said the introduction of the PSTB represents a clear violation of the President’s election manifesto, which pledged to “abolish all oppressive acts… and ensure the civil rights of people in all parts of the country.”
Particular concern was raised over the vague definition of terrorism contained in the draft bill, which the Church warned could be used to suppress dissent and curtail freedom of expression, mirroring the worst features of the PTA.
Calling for decisive action, the Church of Ceylon urged the government to immediately repeal the PTA and withdraw the proposed PSTB, stressing that national security concerns must be addressed in a manner consistent with constitutional guarantees, democratic norms, and fundamental human rights.
