Govt. approved to publish draft bill of Anti-Terrorist Act in gazette

• Local and international parties also  expressed their concern regarding certain sections of the draft bill
• Clearance of the AG has been granted for the said new draft bill

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

The government granted approval to publish the new Draft Bill of the Anti-Terrorist Act in the government gazette and to submit the same to Parliament, cabinet spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.   

Addressing the media, he said the concurrence of the Cabinet Ministers was granted at their meeting held on September 5, 2022, to publish the draft bill of the Anti-Terrorist Act prepared by the Legal Draftsman in order to introduce the Anti-Terrorist Act repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act in the government gazette and subsequently submit it to Parliament. Following that, the said draft bill was published in the government gazette on March 22, 2023.  

Thereafter, a number of local and international parties expressed concern about that and expressed their concern regarding certain sections of the draft bill.  
Accordingly, the Justice Ministry, Prison Activities, and Constitutional Reforms have called for views and proposals formally from those who are interested in this regard through electronic media, and the Justice Minister, Prison Activities, and Constitutional Reforms have held discussions with certain parties himself.  

Whereas, considering all the views and proposals submitted, actions have been taken to prepare a new draft bill by the Legal Draftsman by revising the original draft bill, which was published in the government gazette.  

The clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the said new draft bill, the minister said.