⚠️ Organised Crime Bill Risks EU GSP+ Trade Access & Rights Standards: HRW

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that Sri Lanka’s proposed Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill (submitted 20 Oct 2026) reproduces abusive provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), threatening civil liberties and international trade commitments. • Trade & Market Risks: • Jeopardizes tariff-free EU market access under GSP+, which relies on compliance with core human rights conventions. • Endangers export competitiveness across key sectors such as apparel & textiles, tea, and rubber products that heavily rely on GSP+ concessions. • Key Bill Concerns & Legal Impact: • Arbitrary Detention: Enables Ministry Secretary detention orders up to 1 year without magistrate oversight; High Court bail restricted to exceptional circumstances. • Surveillance & Data: Grants police powers to access telecom data, intercept communications, and perform forensic device extraction; allows location/subscriber tracking without court orders. • Police Powers: Restores admissibility of police confessions, raising torture risks; allows search and arrest without warrants based on "reasonable suspicion." • Expression & Media: Restricts media coverage of court proceedings and criminalizes publishing victim identities. • HRW Recommendation: • Urges immediate withdrawal of the bill and calls on the EU to clarify that the law violates GSP+ trade obligations.