– The Government has amended all the controversial matters existing in the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act such as the definition of the word “terrorism” when the new Bill “Protection of the State from Terrorism Act” was drafted, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday.

He told the weekly briefing to announce Cabinet decisions that there has been a debate in society for decades on the need to abolish the PTA and pointed out that there should be provisions to prevent organised crimes once the PTA is abolished.The Minister said this in response to a question as to whether the Government has amended controversial provisions such as detention of suspects without a detention order for about one year and the interpretation of the term “terrorism’ in the PTA.

“All such provisions have been amended,” the Minister said.

He said the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (17) approved the publication and submission to Parliament of a new Bill titled the “Protection of the State from Terrorism Act”, aimed at replacing the existing Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 48 of 1979.The decision follows the Government’s view that a new legal framework is required to address shortcomings in the existing anti-terrorism legislation. A Technical Expert Committee had earlier been appointed to prepare a preliminary draft on the proposed legislation.

Following the preparation of the preliminary draft, the Cabinet granted in-principle approval on August 10, 2026, to introduce the new Act.A draft Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman has subsequently received clearance from the Attorney General, paving the way for the next stage of the legislative process.Accordingly, Cabinet approved the proposal submitted by Minister of Justice and National Integration to publish the Bill in the Government Gazette and thereafter present it to Parliament for approval.