COLOMBO, Aug. 24 -- The proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill requires substantial amendments before it can be considered consistent with international human rights standards or meet the conditions associated with Sri Lanka's GSP+ trade preferences, Alan Keenan, Senior Consultant, International Crisis Group (ICG), has said.

The Cabinet last week approved the publication in the Gazette of the proposed bill, which is intended to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), subject to necessary amendments. The legislation is expected to be presented to Parliament following its gazette notification.

Commenting on the proposed legislation on his X account, Keenan described the draft as "very bad", suggesting that the existin...