Thursday Nov 05, 2026
Thursday Nov 05, 2026
Wednesday, 4 November 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Demanding the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA) and the Online Safety Act (OSA), which it says threaten the democratic rights of ordinary citizens, the Jana Aragala Vyaparaya(JAV-People’s Struggle Movement),will stage a protest near Parliament today (4).
The demonstration, scheduled to begin at 12 noon at the Parliament Roundabout, is expected to bring together trade unions, political activists and others opposed to the legislation.
Addressing a press conference in Nugegoda yesterday, JAV’s National Executive Committee member Vasantha Mudalige said the Government had temporarily shelved plans to introduce the PSTA following strong protests by the public.
He said the Government had initially intended to table and pass the proposed legislation in Parliament on November 4 and 5, but public resistance had forced it to reconsider.
“We believe it is a positive step that the Government has, to some extent, done by responding to people’s voices against those laws. However, we urge the Government to repeal the PTA, just as it should withdraw the PSTA. The Online Safety Act must also be repealed,” he said.
Mudalige warned that the proposed laws could be used to suppress dissent and silence citizens opposing Government policies.
“If this legislation is enacted, the people will only be able to open their mouths to eat or to yawn,” he said.
He accused the National People’s Power (NPP) Government of abandoning the democratic principles it advocated during the 2022 public uprising, which challenged political corruption and economic mismanagement.
Mudalige said the Government’s economic policies, centred on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, had imposed a heavy burden on ordinary citizens through taxation and rising living costs.
He cited difficulties faced by young people in meeting transport costs, shortages of medicines in hospitals and the inability of families to afford educational materials for their children.
He also criticised the Government over alleged police violence and warned that expanding police powers under the proposed legislation could further undermine civil liberties.
Recalling the repression faced by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) under the PTA, Mudalige said it was a tragedy that a political movement which had experienced such repression was now preparing to introduce laws that could restrict the democratic rights of citizens.
“We demand that the Government immediately withdraw these anti-people, repressive laws — the PTA, PSTA and OSA,” he said.
Mudalige invited the public to join tomorrow’s protest, warning that the movement would continue its campaign until the legislation was repealed.
