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 observance of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on June 26, 2024, it is imperative to highlight the urgent need for the effective implementation of anti-torture rules and regulations in Sri Lanka. This necessity is underscored by the recent landmark judgment delivered by the Matara High Court under the Convention Against…
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…
In a landmark judgment under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Act, the Matara High Court sentenced three police officers, including the former Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Tissamaharama Police, to seven years of rigorous imprisonment each for their involvement in the abduction and torture of five individuals, including…
by Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe The term “judicial cannibalism” is more metaphorical than a formal legal term. It combines the word “judicial,” related to the court system, with “cannibalism,” which means eating one’s own kind. This term can be translated as “judicial self-destruction,” suggesting that the judiciary is undermining its own principles and precedents. President Ranil…
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…
Ajith Parakum As Sri Lanka positions itself to become a more connected and technologically advanced nation, the government has endorsed the National Digital Strategy 2030. This strategy outlines a broad and ambitious plan focusing on infrastructure, connectivity, access, skills, literacy, industries, jobs, and the establishment of a connected digital government. The aim is to foster…
Sri Lanka’s Army Commander, Vikum Liyanage, has initiated legal proceedings under the new Online Safety Act against Thushara Saliya Ranawaka, citing a defamatory social media post. The lawsuit, filed in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, also targets Google and YouTube for disseminating a video that allegedly slanders Liyanage with accusations of war crimes and corruption….
The visit of Japan’s foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa to Sri Lanka is an indication that the relationship between the two countries is on the mend. The manner in which Japan was ousted from the special status it had once held by the previous government headed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would have caused much heartburn. Japan…
Sri Lanka is ranked 150 of 180 states in the 2024 World Press Freedom (RSF) Index of the Reporters Sans Borders. In 2023, Sri Lanka ranked 135 of 180 states. RSF says that press freedom issues are closely tied to the civil war that ravaged the island until 2009, and to the still unpunished crimes…
