HRCSL

Image: Minister Samaraweera at HRC30 (c) S.Deshapriya. (Text of Speech made by the Minister of Finance and Media, Hon. Mangala Samaraweera during the adjournment debate on the Constitutional Council in Parliament on 21st February 2019) Hon. Speaker, • If my memory serves me right, I cannot recall an occasion in Sri Lanka’s recent history when […]

It is no matter for jest when the President of a country publicly singles out national oversight institutions for ferocious censure. And without a doubt, it is even worse when that institution happens to be a national human rights institution. By the very nature of the work that it does and the statutory mandate on […]

Image: Remains of two UN peacekeepers killed in Mali arrive in Sri Lanka. His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Presidential Residence Paget Road Colombo 07 Your Excellency, Re: His Excellency the President’s Statement in the Parliament about the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. We have been made aware of […]

Speaking at the parliament on 06th Feb. President Sirisena criticised the independent Human Rights Council of Sri Lanka and Constitutional Council. Further he indirectly threatened the human rights organitions not to critise his decision to implement death penalty. “I request Human Rights Organizations not to object to the move to implement the death penalty as […]

By Namini Wijedasa. (22 July 2018) The Human Rights Commission’s (HRC) Chair Deepika Udagama this week denounced what she said were sinister efforts to interfere with the work of her institution and to bully it into adopting specific positions. Deepika-Udagama-2018.1 Deepika Udagama In recent weeks, the HRC–and, in particular, its Chair–was targeted by nationalist politicians. […]

Image: Dr. Deepika Udagama, (Daily FT) Statement by 37 CSOs and 170 Individuals Condemning Attacks Against HRCSL Chairperson Dr. Deepika Udagama. We are appalled at statements akin to death threats, violence and hate speech against the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), Dr. Deepika Udagama, a highly respected scholar and human rights advocate. […]

Image: Police brutality is widespread and uncontrollable in Sri Lanka ( Image shows how policemen assaulted a  Tamil youth killing him in sea some years back) Can a nation that calls its island territory a ‘Dhamma Dveepa’ dare tolerate indiscipline and cruelty by the guardians of society? In recent decades such indiscipline and cruelty was rampant, […]

Image: CESCR 61 Sri Lanka session was held 12-13 June  at Palais Wilson, Geneva.©s.deshapriya. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of Sri Lanka* 8. The Committee recommends that the State party build on the national momentum and expedite its Constitutional reform process, including the adoption of a comprehensive […]

Invitation Image: A public discussion will be held on ESC rights situation in Sri Lanka tomorrow. Incorporating ICESCR into Domestic Law HRCSL recognizes the imperative need to address the following Concluding Observation of CESCR (2010): The Committee calls upon the State party to ensure that the Covenant enjoys full legal effects in the domestic legal […]

Image: Police brutality towards suspects are widespread in Sri Lanka. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minster Wickremasinghe the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka  has recommend certain changers the proposed amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure (special provisions) Act, No. 2 of 2013,  It says that the phrase “unless such access is prejudicial […]

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is of the belief the main purpose of a public security regime is to protect the people, and hence must be crafted in a manner that serves the best interests of the people. In this regard, the Commissions brings to the Sub Committee’s attention the principles governing national […]

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka: PROPOSALS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM. Preface. The HRCSL is of the view that deepening constitutional protection of human rights requires much more than the incorporation of a substantively rich constitutional Bill of Rights into a future constitution. Two critically important dimensions that require attention in the reform process are: a) […]

Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission has issued detectives for arresting and detaining persons under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The directives are based on directives issued by previous heads of state and binding international human rights law standards. If implemented properly these directives are bound to improve the human rights in Sri Lanka and police […]

(Grenade attack on  Jumma Mosque at Akkaraipattu On 18th November 2005 one of the issues investigated) I. Introduction There was an escalation in violence in the country during the months of November and December 2005. Consequently there were allegations of human rights violations such as arbitrary killings, rape, harassment of persons during cordon and search […]

KANDY: Journalists who covered a meeting at the Kandy regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) were subjected to shabby treatment on Tuesday (12). The journalists had been invited to attend a meeting chaired by HRCSL Chairperson Dr. Deepika Udagama. The meeting was due to be held from 10.30 a.m. to […]

His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Presidential Secretariat, Colombo 1 Your Excellency, RECOMMENDATION TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALW IN SRI LANKA We extend to Your Excellency our warm wishes for the New Year. We take this opportunity, on this auspicious day, to recommend the abolition of the death […]

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has written to the Government of Sri Lanka advising to that the Government withdraw the proposed amendment to the penal Code and substitute it with the relevant  provision of the  ICCPR Act of 2007. The letter sent by the HRC-SL  to the  PM  is given below: Hon. Prime Minister, […]

(HELP: File photo of another police attack.) ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s police may have scored an own goal by trying to invoke the United Nation’s Universal Declaration on Human Rights as a defence against allegations they used excessive force in breaking up a student demonstration in October. SSP Ajith Rohana, a former police spokesman, argued […]

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has called for the immediate release of those held in detention or remand for a long period of time without charges and against whom there is no credible evidence under PTA. The Commission has further called upon the Attorney General to review the cases of those indicted and to […]

Dr. Deepika Udagama, the Head of Department of Law Faculty of University of Peradeniya has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL). Lionel Fernando, Saliya Peiris, Gazali Hussain and Ambika Satkunanathan have been appointed as Commissioners. New members were appointed to the Bribery Commission and Public Services […]