Petition by the Sri Lanka working Journalists’ Association Against the PSTA Bill .

The Bill for the Protection of the State from Terrorism (PSTA), introduced by the current government, was presented to Parliament on October 6, 2026. Challenging the provisions contained within this Bill, the Sri Lanka Professional Journalists’ Association filed a Special Determination Petitionregistered as SC/SD/133/2026 with the Supreme Court on October 16, 2026, in accordance with the provisions set forth under Articles 120 and 121(1) of the Constitution.

Ranga Bandaranayake, President of the Sri Lanka working Journalists’ Association, and Executive Committee member Lakshman Muthuthanthri appear as the petitioners in this case. This petition, which names the Attorney General and the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala, as respondents, was filed by Attorney-at-Law Dayani Panditharatne, under the guidance of Senior Attorney-at-Law Lakshan Dias.

Through this petition, the petitioners seek a ruling from the Supreme Court declaring that the 'Protection of the State from Terrorism Act' (PSTA)—either in its entirety or in respect of specific provisions is inconsistent with the Constitution. Furthermore, they request an order stating that the enactment of certain provisions found to be unconstitutional (Sections 3, 4(c), 4(d), 10, and 11) would require both a two-thirds majority in Parliament and the approval of the people via a referendum. The petitioners also request the Supreme Court to direct that amendments be introduced for other specific provisions of the Bill (Sections 12(1), 13, 14, 14A, and 76(1)), which would necessitate passage by a two-thirds majority in Parliament. The petitioners have expressed their agreement with certain safeguards included in the Bill (specifically in clauses 11, 21–25, 31–36, 44(3), 56–58, 59(5), 60(2), and 71) as well as the proposal to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979 (PTA). Furthermore, the petition highlights that while the preamble to the Bill states that it is introduced in alignment with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the provisions contained within the Bill actually serve to violate that very Covenant.