UN Human Rights Office encourages Sri Lanka to undertake comprehensive review of PSTA before its enactment

The UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) encourages the Government to undertake a further comprehensive review of the draft Protection of the State from Terrorism (PSTA) Bill before its enactment, in consultation with independent institutions, civil society organisations and legal experts.

The Office recommends, in particular, that the Government:
1) Narrow and clarify the definition of terrorism and related offences; remove or significantly revise provisions capable of criminalizing protected expression and civic activity;
2) Require prompt, independent and effective judicial oversight of every arrest and detention;
3) Strengthen safeguards against torture, ill-treatment, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance;
4) Reinforce due process and fair-trial guarantees;
5) Make judicial warrants the rule for intrusive search, entry and seizure powers;
6) Ensure civilian police primacy;
7) Establish effective independent oversight, accountability and remedies;
8) Narrow immunity provisions; and
9) Conduct meaningful public consultation before further legislative action.

The Office said it stands ready to continue its constructive dialogue with the Government on this
important legislation and to provide technical assistance toward the development of counterterrorism legislation fully consistent with international human rights law and applicable international counter-terrorism standards.

Full Report: OHCHR comments on Sri Lanka’s Protection of the State from Terrorism (PSTA) Bill, as gazetted on 22 September 2026