🇱🇰 President Signals Major Rights Reforms ⚖️

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake outlined a comprehensive reform agenda to overhaul Sri Lanka's security laws and strengthen human rights, emphasizing action over declarations. • Security Law Overhaul: The President stated that laws like the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the Online Safety Act have "no place in a democratic system" and have been used as tools of repression. • PTA Reform: Committed to repealing and replacing the PTA with legislation that balances security with civil liberties, ensures judicial oversight, ends indefinite detention, and meets international human rights standards. • Online Safety Act Revision: Aims to protect free expression while addressing genuine harms, focusing on preventing real harm, not silencing criticism, and will involve collaboration with civil society and experts. • Building Trust & Accountability: • Credibility will be earned through concrete steps: systematically releasing political prisoners, reviewing improper detentions, allowing peaceful protests, and strengthening independent institutions. • The goal is not to erase history but to prevent recurrence of past horrors, building institutions that protect everyone equally. • Long-Term Vision: Constitutional reform, equal citizenship, accountability, and protection of vulnerable communities are essential for a durable rights-based order, ensuring future generations inherit stronger institutions.