Srilanka, Oct. 24 -- In a statement, the National Peace Council (NPP) an independent and non partisan organisation that works towards a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, states that the NPP government's determination to tackle corruption, drug trafficking and organised crime, including criminality involving powerful politicians and senior state officials, presents a significant break with the past.

Its mandate for system change requires both effective law enforcement and protection against arbitrary state power. In this light, the NPC is deeply concerned that three bills now before Parliament pull in the opposite direction. These are the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill, the Prevention of Org...