‘Anti Terrorism Bill’, on the 22nd of March 2023. This bill seeks to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and introduce an anti-terrorism act.

The BASL is of the view that no legislation should be introduced to curtail and suppress, directly or indirectly, the fundamental rights of citizens enshrined in the Constitution and that this bill, if passed into law, will have far-reaching effects.

The BASL stated that the bill had been published in the Gazette without adequate consultations with the relevant stakeholders, including the BASL. Therefore, the BASL urges the government to consider deferring the bill until there is a wider stakeholder consultation and the concerns of stakeholders, including the BASL, are taken into account.

This statement was issued by BASL President Kaushalya Nawaratne and its Secretary, Isuru Balapatabendi.