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SRI LANKA: Two big lies told about the 1978 Constitution

June 23, 2022 editor

By Basil Fernando Two great lies have been propagated about the 1978 Constitution. When a lie is repeated many times by many persons, often such a lie begins to be treated as a conventional truth. The first of these lies is that the 1978 Constitution was created on the model of the French Constitution and the American Constitutional tradition. This was first propagated by Professor A.J. Wilson who called it a Gaullist Constitution. At the time, he was the advisor to President J.R. Jayewardene, a role which he publicly lamented…

I come from a country that does not have justice for victims and keeps impunity for offenders – Sandhya tell journalists community at IFJ 31.

June 17, 2022 editor

At the 31st World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Sandhya Ekneligoda, the wife of missing journalist, Prageeth Ekneligoda, spoke against impunity for the officials who are responsible for the disappearance of her husband. Dear colleagues of the IFJ, first I need to give my heartiest thanks to you for this opportunity. There are many brave journalists in Sri Lanka who have handled their pens and brushes against injustice. I will start my speech with my remembrance of the journalists who faced persecution, disappearance, and were killed. Journalist…

Secretary to the Ministry of Law and Order noticed to showcase: Why SDIG Deshabandu Tennakoon is not transferred?

June 17, 2022 editor

Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage today issued an order directing the Secretary to the Ministry of Law and Order to show cause as to why the Ministry failed to transfer Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon, ignoring the Attorney General’s instructions. On May 23, the Attorney General had instructed the IGP to transfer Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon with immediate effect to prevent unnecessary intervention into the investigations relating to the attacks on peaceful protesters. President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne appearing for the aggrieved party told court that the authorities…

Permission to hear the Fundamental Rights Petition against the Baduraliya Police

June 17, 2022 editor

The Supreme Court yesterday(16) granted leave to hear a fundamental rights petition filed by Suranjith Wickremanayake alleging that he was brutally beaten and arbitrarily arrested by officers of the Baduraliya Police Station. The Supreme Court has allowed the petition to be heard in violation of the Constitution’s right to refrain from torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment, as well as the right to arbitrary arrest and impunity. Attorney-at-Law Shelomi Daniel appeared before the Supreme Court on behalf of the petitioner along with Attorney-at-Law Armisa Tigel on the…

Victims of Rambukkana police shooting to go to Supreme Court!

June 6, 2022 editor

It is being revealed that the shooting that took place at the protest rally in Rambukkana on April 19 demanding fuel was not a shooting to disperse the protesters. Chaminda Lakshan, 41, was shot dead and 14 others were shot dead by police. Meanwhile, it is reported that another group has been brutally assaulted by the police. During the hearing at the Kegalle Magistrate’s Court, the Kegalle Magistrate stated that the shooting was a homicide and ordered the officers who ordered the shooting to be arrested immediately and produced before…

Are you abusing children in a modern way?

June 3, 2022 editor

Date – 2021 / February Location – Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital Ward 63 Baby Name: XX Age of child: 10 years Disease – Chronic abdominal pain Date – 2021 / March Location – Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital Ward 63 Baby Name: YY Age of child: 9 years 7 months Disease: Sudden knee pain The two patients I wrote about above are two very nice, wonderful kids. The first girl comes to us with her mother. Complaining of a chronic stomach ache… After months of testing, she was unable to diagnose any urinary…

250 artists demand immediate arrest of Mahinda Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando and other members of government for the attack on GGG

May 13, 2022 Editor

STATEMENT ON THE EVENTS OF 9TH MAY 2022 On the morning of 9th May 2022, pro-government mobs, transported to Colombo in busses, brutally assaulted peaceful protestors outside Temple Trees and in GotaGoGama, Galle Face. We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, this attack by mobs wielding wooden poles and steel rods, on unarmed protesters, where tents were burned, property destroyed and civilians intimidated and beaten. It is now clear that the mobs were brought to the official residence of the then-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa; and that their assault originated from…

BASL calls for the introduction of the 21st Amendment & a national unity govt

April 25, 2022April 25, 2022 Editor

At a special meeting of the Bar Council to discuss the BASL proposals to restore economic and political stability in Sri Lanka, thirteen proposals were approved unanimously by the Bar Council consisting of representatives of the branches from throughout Sri Lanka. The proposals include: The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) (23) issued a release highlighting a number of proposals to restore political and economic stability in the country. 1. Passing of the 21st amendment repealing the 20th amendment. The 21st amendment should improve on the 19th amendment. It will…

SLCAT Condemns Police Brutality in Rambukkana

April 25, 2022 Editor

Sri Lanka Collective against Torture (SLCAT) condemns the violence by the Sri Lanka Police on 19th April 2022 at Rambukkana, Kegalle in the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. Police officials are alleged to have used violence, including beating with batons, and firing live ammunition repeatedly at people fleeing. These actions are alleged to have caused grave injuries to civilians agitating against government actions particularly the hike in fuel prices and bystanders. Reports have been received of at least one confirmed death and over 12 citizens injured with two in critical…

Open Letter to the Protesters – Prof. Indrawansa de Silva

April 25, 2022 Editor

Congratulations, you made history! And you won an early battle. You made history because there hasn’t been a mass protest like yours in recent Sri Lankan history. It is also historical because your protest is not organized by a political party, a charismatic leader or an identified entity, although, as you know by now, many parties, individuals and wizards behind virtual curtains are claiming at least the partial, if not entire, ownership of it. As the saying goes, success has many fathers and failure is an orphan. If, heaven forbid,…