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…
To mark the International Day to End Corporal Punishment in 2024, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code to prohibit corporal punishment in all spheres. Today’s approval paves the way for legal protections to ensure that no child in Sri Lanka suffers physical or mental violence, aligning with our commitment…
In a recent interview, Senior Journalist K. W. Janaranjana shed light on the long-standing issues surrounding the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), initially enacted as a temporary measure in 1979 in Sri Lanka. Initially promised as a three-month ordinance, the PTA was made permanent in 1982 and has since been a subject of significant controversy….
The government has recently passed many new laws, among which some are favourable to the public while others restrict the rights of the people, said Mr. Dulan Dasanayake, Attorney-at-law, Secretary of the Journalists for Rights trade union, during a press conference held on April 8, 2024, in Colombo. He further stated: “For the first time…
Less than a week after domestic national security law known as “Article 23” came into effect in Hong Kong, US-funded broadcaster Radio Free Asia announced that it will close its bureau in the territory. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) denounces the growing pressure applied on the media by the Hong Kong government through the enactment of…
The Core Group on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council have expressed concern over the recent legislative developments regarding human rights in the country. UK’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Rita French delivering a statement on behalf of the Sri Lanka Core Group comprising Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the United…
The Sri Lankan Collective Against Torture (SLCAT) strongly condemns the appointment of Mr. Deshbandu Tennakoon as the Inspector General of Police (IGP). They argue that this decision directly contradicts democratic principles and the rule of law in Sri Lanka. The SLCAT highlights several concerns regarding the appointment process. Firstly, they point out that Mr. Tennakoon…
In a decisive move yesterday, the Constituent Assembly gave its nod to confirm Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Deshbandu Thennakoon, as the Inspector General of Police. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, MP Sagara Kariyawasam, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, and Dr. Anula Wijesundara (civil society representative) cast their votes in favour of Mr. Tennakoon’s appointment….
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka recently ended a lengthy lawsuit delivering the final decree after 52 years. The case was resolved in favour of the plaintiff. The plaintiff filed the case in the Kurunegala District Court against ousting him from his property, a 90-perch land called ‘Damunugahamulawatta’ in 1972. On 29th March, 1976, the…
