By S.S. Selvanayagam A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court yesterday heard presentations from four petitioners, including the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), the United National Party (UNP) and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) who had filed petitions appealing...
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Amending archaic laws
April 4, 2021 by Yumiko Perera A complex mixture of legal systems of Roman-Dutch Law, British Law, Kandyan Law, Thesavalamai, and Muslim Law, the legal framework of Sri Lanka is rich in diversity. The religious and colonial history of the country, tracing back from...
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: A tool of oppression?
February 7, 2021 by Uwin Lugoda Sri Lankan law enforcement authorities have long faced criticism over the manner in which they use the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The law has acted as the basis for several controversial arrests made...
Human Rights and Civil Society Dialogue in Sri Lanka
27 January 2021 | Online This event will be held on Zoom on 27th January, 14:30– 15:30 (GMT).This event features policy-relevant contributions by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin and Mario Gomez on the human rights and civil society implications of the use of extensive...
A Proposal for a New Chapter on Fundamental Rights and Freedoms in the Constitution
By Dr. Asanga Welikala (University of Edinburgh), Dr. Dinesha Samararatne (University of Melbourne, University of Colombo), Dr. Kalana Senaratne (University of Peradeniya), Dr. Kumaravadivel Guruparan (University of Oxford), and Dr. Gehan Gunatilleke (Harvard...
Sword of Damocles over Freedom of Expression?
Regulation on news websites by Kamanthi Wickramasinghe Media and the Government often don’t see eye to eye and this is applicable to most countries, be it democratic or not. Sri Lankan media platforms too have faced much censorship while many journalists also fell...
Curfew, Lockdown And Restrictions To Movement: On What Legal Basis?
Iman Saleem Most Sri Lankans have spent a considerable portion of this past year with some form of restriction to their movement as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Western Province is currently in limbo — some parts of it isolated, and as of Wednesday...
20A to Constitution: Further hearing fixed for tomorrow
Lakmal Sooriyagoda UPDATE: The Supreme Court yesterday fixed for tomorrow (02) further hearing into 39 Special Determination petitions filed challenging the constitutionality of the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution. The Chief Justice announced...
Sri Lanka- Privacy breached
B. Mohan Privacy in Sri Lanka has seen a serious breach, especially after the Ranjan Ramanayake and Swiss Embassy incidents. In a day and age where privacy cannot be viewed as a singular issue in isolation, but rather as one encompassing almost all aspects of life,...
President’s power to perform duties of a cabinet minister questioned
Minister Bandula Gunawardena is saying that according to the 19th amendment when there is no subject minister appointed the President can take over the powers of that portfolio. Gunewardene was responding to questions at the Cabinet briefing yesterday. He said that...
After Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, fears dominate Sri Lanka’s election
By Hafeel Farisz and Joanna Slater COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — In Sri Lanka’s first national elections since the devastating Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, the vote may come down to the question of security. Sri Lankans will cast their ballots Saturday for a new president....
Sri Lanka: 3 composite insurers remain, 2 years after segregation deadline
Three insurers have so far failed to observe industry regulations requiring them to segregate their composite business and to list the segregated entities, two years after such rules came into force. Under the law, insurers were required to separate their life...