The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has been amended for the third time. Under the revised law, any individual formally charged by the tribunal will be deemed ineligible to contest parliamentary or local government elections and barred from holding any government position.
The government issued the International Crimes Tribunal (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, on Monday night (October 6), introducing a new section (20C) to the existing law. According to the new provision, once a formal charge is filed, the individual will be disqualified from being elected or serving as a Member of Parliament, being elected or appointed to a local government body, being appointed to any position in the Republic, and holding any government office.
The amendment also clarifies that if the individual is acquitted or cleared by the tribunal, the disqualification will no longer apply.
An official from the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the main aim of the amendment is to ensure that no person accused of international crimes can hold any state responsibility while their trial is ongoing. The change also seeks to prevent controversial individuals from occupying key state positions in the future.