News

By Karl Bode. The use of location data to help track and manage the pandemic should come with meaningful safeguards and expiration dates, privacy experts say. In the days and months to come, unprecedented global solidarity will emerge as the world battles the COVID-19 outbreak. But experts also worry the surging pandemic will provide cover for […]

WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 16 March 2020 16 March 2020 Good afternoon everyone. In the past week, we have seen a rapid escalation of cases of COVID-19. More cases and deaths have now been reported in the rest of the world than in China. We have also seen […]

 “The Tamil National Alliance is concerned about the threat posed to the people by the possible spread of the COVID19 virus in the country. The safety of the public is our paramount concern. We call on the government to take all steps to prevent the spread of this virus. We will extend our fullest cooperation […]

Image:A medical worker performs acupuncture on the neck of a coronavirus patient in Wuhan, China, on March 11, 2020. Feature China/Barcroft Media via Getty Images. What symptoms are most common, which groups are most at risk, and more. By Dylan Matthews@dylanmattdylan@vox.com   Finding the best ways to do good. The outbreak of Covid-19, a coronavirus-caused illness that originated in […]

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera asserted that Sri Lanka’s withdrawal from the co-sponsorship of the UN Human Right Council (UNHRC) Resolution had no impact on the Resolution itself and the other countries that co-sponsored it would take it forward even more “vigorously and vehemently”. Below are excerpts of his interview with […]

Image: Pro-Democracy protestors took to street daily against the constitutional coup staged by president Sirisena in October 2018. A short paper published by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) on key developments in the first 100 days of the present Government, as well as their implications for governance, the rule of law, reconciliation, human rights and […]

Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief of the United Nations Human Rights Council, presented a report1 to the Human Rights Council on 24 February, based on his visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of the Government of Sri Lanka from 15 to 26 August 2019. The report was a detailed […]

AG, COI clash over ex-Magistrate Thilina Gamage’s illegal elephant possession case AG claims all documents relating to case have been taken by COI Commission says documents were given by CID, says relevant documents will be handed back today Gamage filed case before Commission alleging political victimisation A senior Attorney General’s  Department official told members of […]

Image: In April Kurunegala police arrested Shakthika Sathkumara, a 33-year-old novelist, under the ICCPR law. – Report. A. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, INCLUDING FOR THE PRESS The constitution provides for freedom of expression, including for the press, and the government generally respected this right. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system […]

As of 7th March 2020, the global number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has surpassed 100 000. As we mark this sombre moment, the World Health Organization (WHO) reminds all countries and communities that the spread of this virus can be significantly slowed or even reversed through the implementation of robust containment and control activities. […]

Literally, this picture is worth more than a thousand words. It shows former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda and current Defense Secretary General Kamal Gunarathne having a friendly chat during the Ananda Nalanda big match last weekend. Wasantha Karannagoda is a suspect of the well-known case of abducting and killing 11 youth by the Sri Lankan […]

A federal appeals court in San Francisco has opened the door to a future lawsuit against the former defense secretary of Sri Lanka — now the nation’s president — for allegedly ordering the murder of a prominent journalist. Lasantha Wickretamunge, founder and editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, was stabbed and beaten to death by […]

It is evident that the Podu Peramuna Government led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the new President, wants desperately to withdraw the cases filed during the Yahapalana regime against corruption and criminal acts alleged to have committed during the previous regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, in the absence of the support of the Judiciary, it appears clearly […]

“A journalist asked the President how the government would face the consequences of withdrawing from co-sponsoring the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka. The Geneva resolution is a challenge to the nation’s independence and dignity. This is the only time in the history a country that has acknowledged that their own security forces have committed war […]

Last week, Sri Lanka’s new government formally withdrew its support for UN Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution 30/1 – thereby pulling the plug on its long-standing pledge to establish a domestic accountability mechanism capable of investigating atrocity crimes committed during the country’s civil war. Although the resolution does not expire until March next year, and the Office […]

In its statement to UN Human Rights Council on the High Commissioner’s Report,  Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka emphasises that the weakening of the relevant provisions of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in strengthening independent institutions will seriously hamper checks and balances and protection of people’s rights under the Rule of Law. Sri […]

 By Piyumani Ranasinghei In the past few weeks, it was quite alarming to see the level of surprise exhibited by the citizens of Sri Lanka in respect of an exchange that took place between a public officer and a politician, whilst she was performing her lawful and official duties following an incident of deforestation in […]

In a meeting with the Netherlands Ambassador Ms. Gonggrijp, Mr. Sampanthan Leader of the Tamil National Alliance has pointed out that “The UNHRC resolution was based on promoting reconciliation accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. If we are to achieve lasting peace in this country, all three aspects must be addressed”. The Ambassador has […]

The director of Vavuniya-based Thinappuyal newspaper, Sakthivelpillai Prakash and his wife alongside another editor, were summoned by Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) on Monday, following the paper’s coverage of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The latest incident of journalist intimidation comes as the 43rd session of the Council is currently underway, where Sri […]

Image:Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, center attends an event to mark the anniversary of country’s independence from British colonial rule in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020.  © 2020 AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena. Rights Activists, Journalists Facing Surveillance, Threats. (New York) – Sri Lankan security agencies are stepping up surveillance, harassment, and threats against human rights activists and […]

Cardholders to get discounts in shopping and other services including health, education etc. The Defence Ministry has decided to issue ‘Virusara Privilege Cards’ (VPCs) to over 200,000 security forces personnel, including families of fallen war heroes and disabled soldiers to provide them discounts from public and private sector institutions. Over 44,500 cards have already been […]

Image: Families of the disappeared writing names of the missing loved ones on a memorial wall. Sri Lanka does not yet have a figure regarding the total number of persons that have disappeared, says OMP. Issuing a statement on the Second Anniversary of the establishment of the Office on Missing Persons it says that “The […]

NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS ISSUES DECISION IN CASE AGAINST GOTABAYA RAJAPAKSA. San Francisco, March 2, 2020: Last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted Ahimsa Wickrematunge’s request to vacate the lower court’s ruling that Gotabaya Rajapaksa is entitled to common law foreign official immunity for acts committed while he was Secretary of Defense of Sri […]

Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne has said that the Government had integrated military and civil capabilities through ‘Integrated Contingency Planning’ to enable the military to work alongside with civilian first-responders to mitigate the impact of disaster situations, worker strikes and civil unrests and take the lead if necessary. “Defence Ministry is capable of […]

Under the government programme for placement of 100,000 unemployed graduates and diploma holders, the interviewing process is underway at Divisional Secretariats by senior government officials with the participation of military officers on the interview board. This raised concerns among those who came for the interview at a DS office in the North this week. It […]

There is a dreadfully fractured logic in what the Government of Sri Lanka articulated before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as it withdrew from UNHRC Resolution 30/1 this week. This is playing to the nationalist gallery with an eye to the impending General Elections. It has disastrous consequences for the country, make no […]

From the Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief on Sri Lanka. The culture of impunity in Sri Lanka has been repeatedly pointed out as one of the main reasons for which religious extremism and hate speech thrive in the country, undermining the rule of law and human rights. Many complained […]

The Government has begun a crackdown on non-governmental organisations, both foreign and local, by urging them to cut down on programmes they are now engaged in. The first salvo has already been fired in the Mullaitivu District where NGOs have been asked “minimise” programmes such as women empowerment, child rights, youth training, human rights, land […]

Former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has said that the decision to co-sponsor Geneva Resolution 30/1 was taken by the yahapalana government under the leadership of then President Maithripala Sirisena. Samaraweera, in a statement issued on withdrawal from Resolution 30/1 and subsequent resolutions extending its mandate in the UN Human Rights Council, has said: “At a […]

Conclusions and recommendations: 86. Ten years after the end of the lengthy ethnic conflict, there has been no closure on a number of issues arising from that conflict and which the Government had pledged to address at the UN Human Rights Council. While there have been some elementary steps taken, lack of accountability and impunity […]