Gammanpila challenges proposed anti-terrorism bill and protest ban

Former minister Udaya Gammanpila has petitioned Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court over the government’s proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill, according to Newswire and Ada Derana reports. The bill had been submitted to Parliament, according to Ada Derana’s Tamil-language report.

The reports describe challenges to provisions of the proposed bill. Ada Derana reports that petitions against the measure were scheduled for hearing that day, but the material provided does not give a date or details of the court proceedings.

Separately, Ada Derana reports that Gammanpila filed a writ petition challenging a ban on protests in Colombo Fort. Another Ada Derana report says he is seeking a referendum on the proposed bill. The reports do not provide further details about the grounds for either challenge or the court’s next steps.