COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – 01 October 2026 – In a significant move to bolster its national security and fulfill international obligations, Sri Lanka has unveiled a new Bill titled “Prevention of Foreign Terrorist Fighters,” officially gazetted on September 30, 2026. This crucial legislation, ordered to be published by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, aims to give effect to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2178, adopted on September 24, 2014, which addresses the growing global threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters.
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, deeply concerned by the acute and escalating threat of individuals traveling to and from conflict zones for terrorist purposes, underscores its commitment as a UN Member State to prevent, suppress, and combat such dangers. The new Bill, identified as 73/2026, marks a pivotal step in strengthening the nation’s counter-terrorism legal framework.
Addressing a Global Imperative: UNSC Resolution 2178
UNSC Resolution 2178 (2014) calls upon all Member States to prevent the movement of foreign terrorist fighters, including by preventing their travel and disrupting the financing of their travel, and to establish legislative measures to prosecute those involved in such activities. Sri Lanka’s new Bill directly responds to this global imperative, creating a robust legal basis for action against individuals who engage in foreign terrorist fighter activities.
The Preamble to the Bill explicitly states the Government’s determination to take effective measures against the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, both within Sri Lanka and abroad, in line with its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations.
Key Provisions of the Prevention of Foreign Terrorist Fighters Act
The proposed “Prevention of Foreign Terrorist Fighters Act, No. of 2026” outlines several critical provisions designed to comprehensively tackle this complex issue:
- Scope of Application: The Act applies to any person, whether a citizen of Sri Lanka or not, who commits an offence under the Act, either while present in Sri Lanka or outside Sri Lanka, provided the offence is also recognized in the foreign jurisdiction.
- Defined Offences: It criminalizes travel by a Sri Lankan citizen to a foreign state or territory, or by any person to Sri Lanka from their residence/nationality, for the purpose of perpetration, planning, preparation of, or participation in terrorist acts, or providing/receiving terrorist training. These individuals are explicitly referred to as “foreign terrorist fighters.”
- Penalties: Upon conviction by the High Court, offenders face a fine not exceeding ten million rupees (LKR 10,000,000) and imprisonment ranging from not less than five years to not exceeding twenty years.
- Ancillary Offences: Attempting, aiding, abetting, or conspiring to commit an offence under this Act carries the same severe penalties.
- Jurisdiction: The High Court of Sri Lanka holden in Colombo, or the High Court established for the Western Province holden in Colombo, will have exclusive jurisdiction to try offences under this Act.
- Integration with Existing Laws: The Bill ensures seamless integration with current counter-terrorism and financial laws. Provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 48 of 1979, will apply to investigations, arrests, detention, and bail. The Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing Act, No. 25 of 2005, will govern freezing, seizure, and forfeiture of property related to offences under this new Act.
- Extradition Facilitation: The Extradition Law, No. 8 of 1977, will be amended to include offences under this Act. Significantly, such offences will explicitly be deemed *not* to be of a political character for extradition purposes between Sri Lanka and other UN Member States, ensuring greater cooperation in bringing offenders to justice.
- International Cooperation: The Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, No. 25 of 2002, will be utilized for providing assistance to other countries or intergovernmental organizations in the investigation and prosecution of offences.
- Corporate Accountability: The Bill includes provisions for holding directors, partners, or officers of a body corporate, firm, or unincorporated body liable for offences committed by that entity, unless they can prove lack of knowledge or exercise of due diligence.
Strengthening Sri Lanka’s National Security Stance
The enactment of the Prevention of Foreign Terrorist Fighters Act will significantly reinforce Sri Lanka’s legal framework against terrorism. By specifically targeting the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters, the country is proactively addressing a critical component of contemporary global security threats. This move not only demonstrates Sri Lanka’s commitment to upholding international law and contributing to global peace and security but also enhances its capacity to protect its own citizens from extremist ideologies and violence.
As the Bill moves through the parliamentary process, it is expected to garner broad support, reflecting the nation’s unified stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
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