Sri Lanka, Oct. 22 -- The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has filed a special determination petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill and the Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill.

They warn that the proposed legislation threatens fundamental rights and expands executive powers.

Releasing a statement, Bar Association President Rajeev Amarasuriya and Secretary Nalin De Silva expressed deep concern that both bills grant excessive powers of arrest, detention, and search to the executive while restricting judicial oversight.

The association says that the measures risk turning a democratic nation into a police state, drawing parallels with the decades-long misuse of the Prevention of Terrorism Act....