The Protection Of The State From Terrorism Act (PSTA): Has The NPP Lost Its Way?

The Protection Of The State From Terrorism Act (PSTA): Has The NPP Lost Its Way?

By Lionel Bopage – Dr. Lionel Bopage Repressive government actions that restrict citizen behaviour undermine political legitimacy and fuel anti-government sentiment, as history has repeatedly demonstrated, the Soviet Union being a case in point. Rather than quelling dissent, repression often invigorates social movements and political participation. For democracy to succeed and sustainable governance to take root, governments must involve citizen…

Sri Lanka: The Prevention Of State From Terrorism Act (PTSA) In Plain Language and Act In Full • Sri Lanka Brief

The Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PTSA) 2026 is the government’s proposed replacement for the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) of 1979. It claims to modernise counter‑terrorism law while aligning with human rights standards — but it also introduces broad new powers that affect speech, association, and digital activity. 1. What counts as “terrorism” under the PTSA? A person commits terrorism if they intentionally cause serious harm…