By The Pulseline News Desk
The Government has gazetted a new Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill proposing expanded powers for law enforcement authorities to investigate and prosecute organised criminal groups in Sri Lanka.
The Bill, published as a Gazette supplement on October 6, seeks to give effect to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime and strengthen Sri Lanka’s legal framework for combating serious and organised crime.
Under the proposed legislation, a person who becomes a member of an organised criminal group for the purpose of committing a serious crime could face imprisonment for a period of five to 20 years and a fine of up to Rs. 1 million.
The Bill also provides for detention orders of up to two months at a time, with the total period of detention permitted to extend up to one year.
It further allows for court-authorised investigative measures, including digital surveillance, interception of communications, undercover operations and the extraction of data from electronic devices.
The proposed legislation also introduces restrictions on the publication of information relating to proceedings under the Act.
These include restrictions on publishing the identities of victims and certain material connected to court proceedings involving serious offences covered by the proposed law.
The Bill is aimed at strengthening the powers available to law enforcement agencies to investigate organised criminal networks and gather evidence relating to serious offences.
The proposed framework comes as the Government seeks to strengthen its legal response to organised criminal activity and align Sri Lanka’s domestic laws with its international obligations.
The Bill will now be subject to consideration by Parliament, where its provisions will be examined before any further legislative action is taken.
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