⚠️ Draft Terrorism Bill Risks GSP+ Access 📈

The proposed Prevention of Terrorism against the State Bill (PTSB) has sparked concerns over its compliance with international norms, potentially endangering Sri Lanka's critical trade preferences with the European Union. • Trade & Economy Impact The EU’s GSP+ concessions remain vital for Sri Lankan exports, particularly apparel & textiles and rubber, especially following recent global tariff shifts. Maintaining GSP+ is contingent on meeting international human rights and rule of law standards, which the current draft is accused of failing. • Key Legal Concerns • Normalization of Exception: The bill reportedly integrates emergency-style powers—such as proscribing organizations, curfews, and movement restrictions—into ordinary law without sufficient parliamentary oversight. • Broad Definitions: Critics argue the draft uses overbroad definitions of terrorism, which could lead to the targeting of dissenters rather than focusing on procedural exceptions for existing criminal acts. • Detention & Evidence: The PTSB is noted to mirror the existing PTA by allowing lengthy detention periods and high-pressure settings that may encourage forced confessions. • Status & Recommendations Based on provisional draft analysis, experts suggest a "procedural exception" model. This would limit the law to specific investigative powers for crimes already defined in other legislation (e.g., aviation or weapons laws), ensuring better alignment with the ICCPR and safeguarding national market access.