Lawyers Collective condemns Anti-Terror, Online Safety Bills

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Lawyers’ Collective condemns the latest version of the Anti-Terrorism Bill and the Online Safety Bill gazetted in September 2023.

The Lawyers’ Collective says that the Government of Sri Lanka has failed to respond to the serious and fundamental concerns raised about the Anti-Terrorism Bill gazetted in March this year.

It also says that the government failed to adopt any transparent and accountable process through which the Bills were explained, justified and robust public consultation facilitated before they were gazetted. 

The Lawyers’ Collective calls for the immediate withdrawal of the two Bills and also calls for the adoption of a transparent process of consultative law making and the proposal of executive and legal measures that are proportionate and responsive to the needs of the people.