A media organization has urged the government to enforce court rulings issued against police officers involved in the torture of suspects. In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, Ravi Seneviratne, the Young Journalists’ Association highlighted the failure to implement multiple Supreme Court and Human Rights Commission rulings over the…
The newly formed Sri Lankan government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has decisively rejected UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution 51/1, which aims to extend the mandate of an external evidence-gathering mechanism on alleged human rights violations. On October 8, the Cabinet, under President Dissanayake, resolved that Sri Lanka will address human rights concerns,…
Journalist Kalpa Gunaratne was arrested and later released on bail following an incident at the Colombo International Book Fair. The incident in question occurred near a sales stall, where a dispute escalated involving a bouncer, hired externally by the organizing entity, and a customer. The bouncer, tasked with preventing book thefts, allegedly verbally abused the…
Vidarshana Kannangara, a leader of the *Jana Aragala Vyaparaya* who defected from the movement to support President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the recently held presidential election, has voiced strong dissatisfaction over a recent police appointment. Kannangara, who backed Dissanayake instead of the movement’s candidate Nuwan Bopage in the September 21 presidential election, criticized the appointment…
In Sri Lanka, the Election Commission bears the primary responsibility of ensuring that electoral processes are conducted independently, impartially, and fairly. The Constitution of Sri Lanka establishes the Election Commission as an independent entity to oversee the organization of Presidential, Parliamentary, Provincial, and Local Government elections in line with the laws enacted by Parliament and…
In Sri Lanka, the Election Commission bears the primary responsibility of ensuring that electoral processes are conducted independently, impartially, and fairly. The Constitution of Sri Lanka establishes the Election Commission as an independent entity to oversee the organization of Presidential, Parliamentary, Provincial, and Local Government elections in line with the laws enacted by Parliament and…
In 1931, Sri Lanka earned the right to the universal franchise, a milestone that allowed the nation’s citizens to participate in the electoral process. However, not all Sri Lankans fully enjoy this right even today. Among those excluded are Buddhist nuns, prisoners, and approximately 10% of the immigrant population. Recently, the Committee for Safeguarding Prisoners’…
In a pivotal move toward accountability and justice, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has released a comprehensive report highlighting the widespread issue of enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka. This report, titled “Accountability for Enforced Disappearances in Sri Lanka,” sheds light on the persistent challenge of holding perpetrators accountable while emphasizing the need…
The following is based on a presentation by President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanna, former Director-General of the Bribery Commission, during an educational workshop organized by the We Have a Dream Collective on January 19, 2024. Introduction Sri Lanka, a nation endowed with vast resources, is strategically located as a bridge between Europe and Asia. However, despite…
Ajith Parakum In Sri Lanka, corporal punishment is common in school settings. This practice, intended to discipline children by causing physical discomfort or pain, raises significant ethical and legal concerns on a global scale. Under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT), torture is defined as any act by which severe pain…
