Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
Government to amend Prevention of Organised Crime Bill following court challenges
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has signalled the government's willingness to make substantial revisions to the controversial Prevention of Organised Crime Bill at committee stage, responding to legal and parliamentary concerns raised since its introduction.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The government has pledged to undertake key amendments to the Prevention of Organised Crime Bill (POCB) following sustained criticism from multiple quarters, President Dissanayake announced on Tuesday. The move comes after the Supreme Court and parliamentary opposition raised constitutional and procedural objections to several provisions within the legislation.
President Dissanayake indicated that the administration is prepared to remove or substantially modify provisions related to certain criminal offences contained in the bill. The commitment to revise the legislation represents a significant concession from the government following weeks of public and institutional scrutiny.
The Prevention of Organised Crime Bill has faced intense debate since its proposal, with concerns centred on the scope of its enforcement powers and potential implications for civil liberties. Legal experts and opposition parliamentarians have questioned whether certain clauses align with constitutional protections.
The government's decision to revisit the legislation at the committee stage suggests a pragmatic approach to legislative passage, though the specific amendments under consideration remain to be detailed in parliament. The revised bill is expected to proceed through the parliamentary process with the proposed modifications incorporated.