North East Women Collectively protest against the Anti-Terrorism Act

Hundreds of minority women came to the streets and voiced against this tabled bill. And chief Prelates of all three Buddhist sects have written to President Ranil Wickremesinghe on the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill and have urged him to remove certain concerning provisions from it before passing it in Parliament.

On the 20th of April 2023, North East Women’s Collective staged a protest against the Anti-Terrorism Act bill. The protest was held in all eight districts of North East Provinces by women, feminist human rights defenders, women’s organizations, and Women CBOs. Hundreds of minority women came to the streets and voiced against this tabled bill.

Women said minority communities have already suffered and are still being oppressed by PTA and the new ATA bill is more draconian and it will horrendously suppress the voice of minorities, women, and the entire Sri Lankan people.

Therefore they collectively voiced not to enact the ATA bill in the Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Chief Prelates of all three Buddhist sects have written to President Ranil Wickremesinghe on the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill and have urged him to remove certain concerning provisions from it before passing it in Parliament. The Prelates noted that a strong opposition has arisen in the society against provisions that will violate the right to expression and peaceful dissent which are key components of a country’s democracy.

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