The National Shoora Council (NSC) held a high-level consultation on the draft bill relating to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), bringing together legal experts, civil society representatives and member organizations to discuss the proposed legislation.
The consultation was held on August 21, 2026, at the AMYS Auditorium in Colombo, with the aim of encouraging dialogue, cooperation and consensus on issues concerning the NGO sector and civil society.
The meeting was chaired by NSC President’s Counsel M.M. Zuhair, while General Secretary Attorney-at-Law Rasheed M. Imthiyaz delivered the welcome and introductory remarks.
Dr. M.A.M. Hakeem, an Executive Committee member of the NSC and Head of the Department of Public and International Law at the University of Colombo, provided an overview of the background to the proposed bill, previous developments and the reasons for its introduction.
Attorney-at-Law and human rights advocate Ermiza Tegal then presented a detailed analysis of the draft legislation, highlighting its potential benefits as well as concerns regarding its possible impact on civil society organizations, volunteer services and the wider NGO sector.
The consultation also included participation from members of the NSC Executive Committee and Secretariat, representatives of member organizations, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), NGOs and other civil society groups.
Participants shared their views and recommendations on the proposed legislation, with discussions focusing on its potential implications and the need for further engagement.
In his concluding remarks, NSC President M.M. Zuhair summarized the key issues raised and outlined possible steps for the Council’s continued engagement on the draft bill.
The session was moderated by Executive Committee member Ash-Sheikh M. Abdullah.
