The 2019 election has not generated any real enthusiasm among the people. There have been the usual rituals of meetings, distribution of rice parcels, promises of other little santhosom (gifts) – those are what the sovereign people of Sri Lanka have been offered. In reality, they have been left with a beggar’s choice, which is to select something from the dustbin. Of course, no one could have expected any immediate solutions to the terrible problems the country is faced with. But the people had the right to see a slight…
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Resuming the death sentence in order to divert public attention
Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena announced that he has signed four warrants for execution of persons who were convicted of crimes related to drugs. His announcement was given very wide publicity. In justifying his action, he said that in the Philippines, 27,000 people were shot on allegations of offences relating to drug possession. The Sri Lankan President went on to say that this is what should be done. He further stated that the bomb blast that took place on Easter Sunday, 21 April was, according to his understanding, masterminded by…
Read MoreSri Lanka mourns worst attack since civil war and other stories in JUST ASIA
This week Just Asia begins with Sri Lanka, which has been traumatized by a series of coordinated bombings on Easter Sunday. More than 350 people were killed and at least 500 wounded in the deadliest attack in Sri Lanka since the end of the civil war 10 years ago. The dead included at least 45 children. The blasts targeted three churches, as well as four hotels. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe acknowledged there was a prior warning about the bombings, and Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and IGP Pujith Jayasundara have been…
Read MoreOpen letter to the Honourable Speaker of the Parliament on the murder of two businessmen Rathgama Bussa area and General state of murder in the Island
SRI LANKA: Open letter to the Honourable Speaker of the Parliament on the murder of two businessmen Rathgama Bussa area and General state of murder in the Island We reproduce below an open letter written by the Asian Human Rights Commission to Honourable Speaker of the Parliament in Sri Lanka. Honourable Speaker, the Asian Human Rights Commission is taking this extraordinary step of writing to you about the murder of two businessmen in the Rathgama Bussa area, allegedly by some police officers of the Special Crime Investigating Unit of the…
Read MoreSri Lankan police arrested in death of two businessmen and other stories
This week Just Asia begins with Sri Lanka, where investigations are ongoing into the abduction and murder of two businessmen from Rathgama. Until now, two police officers have already been arrested. Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department has revealed that the two businessmen, Manjula Asela and Rashin Chinthaka were abducted and murdered, and their bodies were then burnt. Just Asia speaks to Basil Fernando, Director of Policy and Program Development, AHRC, for details. Next, in the Philippines, Senator Leila de Lima marked her second year in detention last Sunday. She was…
Read MorePublic space decreasing as talk of presidential election looms large
In an unprecedented move, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena attacked the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) for carrying out its duty to vet soldiers to participate in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions. While the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations requires the HRCSL to vet the human rights record of persons proposed for participation in peacekeeping missions, the President and the military are opposing this move. As a result, an earlier group of peacekeepers already in the Missions continue to be there, while a new group is unable to go. Two…
Read MoreA Snapshot of the Criminal Justice System: Building a Picture Through Sexual Violence Cases in the Court of Appeal 2018 by Shenali De Silva and supported publication
The disparity in sentences illustrated a lack of uniformity and consistency in judges’ approaches to sentencing sexual violence offending. The non-adherence to statutory minimum sentences and ordering suspended sentences compounded the lack of consistency in sentencing. The existence, and extent, of sentencing disparities alerts to larger issues around the exercise of judicial discretion and the need for sentencing guidelines and other parameters to ensure consistency, fairness, and to minimise arbitrariness in judicial decision-making. Disparity in judicial decision-making, including non-observance of legislative constraints, indicates the exercise of judicial discretion is an…
Read MoreJOINT ALTERNATIVE REPORT From the Sri Lankan NGO Collective to the Committee Against Torture
”2.1 A protracted civil war of 26 years between government forces and the LTTE inflicted devastating consequences at a human, social, and institutional level. In May 2009, a military victory declared by the Sri Lankan Government saw the end of the war”. ”2.3 In September 2010, constitutional reform was rushed through Parliament (18th Amendment to the Constitution), which among other things, effectively removed the two term limit on the Executive Presidency, thereby solidifying the president’s power over the Attorney-General, judiciary and various “independent” commissions. The president was conferred unfettered powers…
Read MoreOFFICE ON MISSING PERSONS (ESTABLISHMENT, ADMINISTRATION AND DISCHARGE OF FUNCTIONS) ACT, No. 14 OF 2016
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE ON MISSING PERSONS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE SEARCHING AND TRACING OF MISSING PERSONS; TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO RELATIVES OF MISSING PERSONS; FOR THE SETTING UP OF A DATABASE OF MISSING PERSONS; FOR SETTING OUT THE PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES APPLICABLE TO THE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED TO THE SAID OFFICE; AND TO PROVIDE FOR ALL MATTERS WHICH ARE CONNECTED WITH OR INCIDENTAL TO, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT. read the full act
Read MoreRIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, No. 12 OF 2016 ( Sinhala, English)
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION; TO SPECIFY GROUNDS ON WHICH ACCESS MAY BE DENIED; TO ESTABLISH THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION COMMISSION; TO APPOINT INFORMATION OFFICERS; TO SET OUT THE PROCEDURE AND FOR MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH OR INCIDENTAL THERETO. WHEREAS the Constitution guarantees the right of access to information in Article 14A thereof and there exists a need to foster a culture of transparency and accountability in public authorities by giving effect to the right of access to information and thereby promote a society in…
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