Amila – Priceless – is the name she gave to him just four years back. Last week, she was seen throwing the four year old Amila into Kalu ganga (river). Amila was her fifth child. She had been making efforts in the last few months trying to get her children into an orphanage but failed. [...]
Filed under: Sri Lanka, child rights, civil society, human rights | 1 Comment »
Deaths of butterflies, flowers and young people ‘The field is vast Where these deaths occurred. And there you prefer to be alone. … You look over your kingdom sadly, With that royal sadness That befits the king, The sole king-” From Age Four Revisited – from a new era to emerge, 1972 In this poem, [...]
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The late Gunadasa Liyanage was a senior lawyer in Mount Lavinia who practiced mostly civil law. In the mid-1970’s, he was also the leader of the United National Party (UNP) supporters in the Ratmalana area. He was the choice of the local UNPers for the 1977 elections. In the days when the nominations were being [...]
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What am I, I ask myself What is my motherland ? (From the collection of poems, ‘The sea was calm behind your house.’)_ The motherland is something natural, something that comes with birth; something to which one is connected, biologically, psychologically and emotionally, in short, in every way. It is not something conditional; it is [...]
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A few decades ago, Bunty De Soysa was one of Sri Lanka’s leading criminal lawyers; at one point, he was also president of the country’s Bar Association.In one case, he represented a group of young leftist radicals in court who were charged with offences relating to their political activities. During the course of the consultations [...]
Filed under: 17th Amendment, Constitution, Constitutional Council, Judiciary, Sri Lanka, Supreme Court, attorney general, justice, politics, rule of law | Leave a Comment »
In talking about Sarath Fonseka’s case and Prof. G.L. Peiris’ media conference some argue that justice should not only be done but must also be seen to be done. However, a course of action which is basically unjust cannot be made to seen as just purely by procedural means. To attempt to do so is [...]
Filed under: Depatment of Election, President, Sri Lanka, civil society, election violence, justice, media, politics, rule of law, violations | 1 Comment »
Peter Mountford who returned from a visit to Sri Lanka writes in an article ‘Sri Lanka’s hr and free speech problems need international attention’ (Seattle Times Editorial 27th February): At the core of Sri Lanka’s problems is a rotten constitution, which gives the president near dictatorial power. Opposition members in parliament are easily bought through [...]
Filed under: Constitution, President, Sri Lanka, Supreme Court, abductions, civil society, corruption, disappearances, extrajudicial killings, fundermental rights, human rights, justice, media, police, politics, rule of law | Leave a Comment »
These days who would not want to think of liberalism? In a country where the idea of tolerance and individual freedom is totally lost, the idea of limited government isreplaced with the absolute power of a single man known as the executive president who is above the law and even the constitution. Where the notion [...]
Filed under: Constitution, Constitutional Council, Sri Lanka, election violence, executive presidential system, fundermental rights, justice, politics, rule of law | 1 Comment »
At a press conference held on behalf of the Sanga Convention monks of the three leading Buddhist chapters explained the reasons for postponing the National Convention of Buddhist Monks which was to be held at Kandy yesterday, the 18th February. The three monks who spoke at this press conference were, the Ven. Pro. Atthangane Rathanapala, [...]
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“These women are crying for justice in a background in which the incumbent president, Mahinda Rajapakse, has begun his second term. In the government camp there are celebrations and boundless boasts about their great victories. There is triumphalism exhibited in every possible way, and of course, the photographs appear of boundless joy in the families [...]
Filed under: Defence Ministry, Depatment of Election, Judiciary, Sri Lanka, abductions, civil service, crime, disappearances, fundermental rights, human rights, illegal arrest, illegal detention, justice, media, politics, rule of law | Leave a Comment »
ONLINE BOOK-A Baseline Study on Torture in Sri Lanka
ONLINE BOOK-In Defence of the Legal Profession
A LONG SEARCH FOR JUSTICE
The UN Human Rights Committee report of a TORTURE VICTIM
An article from Transparency International Sri Lanka
Transfer of the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption
