On June 26, 2024, the Right to Life Human Rights Centre, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Collective Against Torture (SLCAT), hosted an Expert Forum at Hotel Janaki to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The forum, titled “Ongoing Torture Despite Extensive Anti-Torture Legislation,” brought together prominent figures such as Shani…
In a landmark moment for Afghan cricket, Afghanistan has qualified for the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for the first time. The thrilling victory came in a tense, low-scoring match against Bangladesh in St Vincent, securing their place as runners-up in Super 8s Group 1. Afghanistan batted first, posting a modest total…
With elections and a change of government in one way or the other imminent, the independent institutions of state vested with authority to monitor, and provide a check and balance to government, are vindicating their existence. The reports of the Auditor General over the years has been a testament to the diligence with which public…
In a significant move to enhance human rights advocacy, Mr. Philip Dissanayake, Executive Director of Right to Life Human Rights Centre, has signed a partnership agreement with the Netherlands Embassy. This collaboration aims to strengthen the capabilities of human rights defenders, ensuring more robust and effective advocacy efforts. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to…
While Sri Lanka’s macro-economic situation has improved, the impacts of the economic crisis together with associated austerity measures are affecting the poorest and already marginalized groups the most, said Volker Türk, the current High Commissioner for Human Rights. In his opening comments at the 56th session of the Human Rights Council, the UN Human Rights…
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe in an address to the parliament on Tuesday (18) announced a new wealth tax initiative aimed at addressing rental income while ensuring the vast majority of homeowners remain unaffected. Emphasizing the high threshold for the tax, the President reassured citizens that around 90 percent of homes would be exempt. “I…
Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, Mr. M. N. Ranasinghe, stated that the period from 2022 to 2024 will be historically significant for the highest number of law reforms in Sri Lanka. He highlighted that since 2022, 59 legal reforms have been passed in Parliament, with an additional 07 drafts…
Sri Lanka Energy Project (SLEP) has received top honors at the 2024 annual conference for the Society for International Development, the premier U.S. event for international development professionals. The award was given in recognition of the innovative solar-powered electric vehicle battery swapping stations owned and operated by Sri Lanka’s Sling Mobility (Pvt.) Ltd., particularly highlighting…
In the Asian social service sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Sri Lanka have made significant strides by the year 2024, overcoming challenges that were present in 2022. For the year 2024, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam have been categorized as “Doing Okay.” The 2022 index placed Sri Lanka in the…
India, the world’s largest democracy, has a profound influence on its neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka. The Indian general election, a massive democratic exercise involving over 900 million eligible voters, determines the political direction of the country for the next five years. In the recent election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured a significant victory with…
