Independence of judiciary

(Image courtesy of www.westchestercomdiv.com) The Retired Judges’ Association (RJA) says it is “gravely perturbed” by the potential impact of the draft 20th Amendment on the constitutional separation of powers, particularly in relation to the selection and appointment of judges to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. In a letter to Justice Minister Ali […]

Despite the Government appearing to step back from the planned decimation of the improvements made to the Constitution in 2015, it is likely that some of the key autocratic elements of the original J.R. Jayewardene design made worse by the 18th Amendment will remain in a new draft amendment. Or they may be included in […]

The Free Media Movement is deeply concerned about the impending threat and the serious challenges posed to the freedom of expression and to the media freedom by the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution, which was presented to the Cabinet on 2nd September and ratified with all-powerful executive presidential powers. One of the major issues […]

The Court of Appeal today overturned a life sentence handed in to a former LTTE cadre turned university lecturer for his alleged role in forced- conscription of a girl to the organization and ordered to release him after the Attorney General (AG) department sought a fresh probe. An appeal against the life sentence imposed by […]

The 18  investigations that have been commenced against the Petitioner [SSP Sharni Abeysekara]  to find materials to justify the transfer and the interdiction of the Petitioner cannot be sustained against the Petitioner whereas the said complaints are based on the fabricated and/or false complaint tainted with malice, argues the Fundamental Rights petition filed by SSP […]

Last month (May 2020) a Magistrate in Jaffna had withdrawn quarantine orders against the organizers of end of war commemorations, based on appeals by lawyers.[1] At least three lawyers have faced reprisals in the days afterwards. Attorney-at-Law Mr. Roy Dilaksan’s house was reported to have been attacked by unknown persons.[2]  Another lawyer who had appeared for the […]

Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayaka said in open court that officers of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had attempted to show photographs of Hejaaz Hizbullah at his chambers prior to the recording of statements from two children. When the matter was taken up before Dissanayake on 24 June, he told Hizbullah’s lawyers that prior to the […]

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 […]

Image: At the Independence day ceremony former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda was sitting close to AG Livera. For the fourth time, Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar today ordered to re-issue summons on former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda in connection with the indictments filed over the abduction of eleven persons in 2008 and 2009. Wasantha Karannagoda is […]

The Independence Day celebrations got underway at the Independence Square this morning under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapksa and Prime Minister Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapksa, other local and foreign invitees attended the celebrations. Below is an excerpt of the President’s speech: Sri Lanka is a Unitary State. It is a free, sovereign, independent and […]

Hand wringing by Government politicians over leaked tape recordings of phone conversations between prosecutors, judicial officers and a United National Party politician known more for his brawn than his brain, (this worthy’s cerebral power appears to be even less than commonly perceived), is hypocritical in the extreme. Historic undermining of the judicial institution Even as […]

Image: Ajith Prasanna, a retired Army officer now practising as a lawyer, has specifically named Colombo Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne, Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake, Udesh Ranathunga and the Mt Lavinia magistrate Lochana Abeywickrema as being politically influenced. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) is condemning “statements made with reference to concluded cases, pending litigation, the […]

The presenting of a Cabinet Paper by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa this week, proposing the establishment of a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry (SPCOI), under the SPCOI Law (1978) to investigate government officials who had conducted ‘witch hunts’ of other public officials during the time of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition Government as well as ‘third parties’ […]

Cartoon by @Nikshazz . Sri Lanka’s floating voters, struggling to find their feet in the unpromising pandemonium of November’s Presidential elections, can only flinch from ‘Pohottuwa’ Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s promise at his inaugural campaign rally following nominations in Anuradhapura on Wednesday, that he would free all ‘war heroes’ held in custody on ‘bogus charges’ the day after he […]

The case filed before the Court of Appeal challenging the Sri Lankan citizenship of SLPP presidential nominee Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Prof. Chandragupta Thenuwara and senior journalist Gamini Viyangoda will be taken up before the three-member Special High Court on October 02, 2019, which is today. The petition’s content collectively simplified is mentioned below; 1. One […]

Full text of the petition filed by two Civil society activists, Gamini Viyangoda and Prof. Chandragupta Thenuwara, who are asking the Courts to quash the Dual Citizenship Certificate and NIC issued to Gotabaya as there is no file pertaining to these matters in the Department of Immigration or the Defense Ministry.    

Image: Sirisena invited Gnanasara and his mother to his office after pardoning him. 20th of June 2019: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and its Executive Director, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, filed papers challenging the Presidential Pardon of Gnanasara Thero who was convicted for contempt of court by the Court of Appeal on 8th August 2018. He was sentenced […]

Mr. Kalinga Indatissa P.C, President Bar Association of Sri Lanka,   Dear Mr. lndatissa, It has been brought to our Commission’s attention that members of certain regional Bar Associations (e.g., Mawanella and Badulla) have refused to appear on behalf of members of the Muslim community arrested in the backdrop of the post-April violent attacks. As […]

CPA Statement on the Presidential Pardon of Gnanasara Thero. 24th May 2019, Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) expresses its deep shock and concern over the Presidential pardon of Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, who was released from prison on 23rd May 2019. The pardon raises a number of pressing questions which the President and […]

11 boys abducted and killed in 2008; 14 naval officers implicated in the crimes, 13 of them arrested and produced before a magistrate. Last Thursday, the 14th suspect in the case, war time Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda won reprieve from arrest in the country’s highest court – probably for the duration of his trial For […]

Lawyers for Democracy (LfD) is gravely concerned with the current constitutional impasse created due to the delay in appointing the President of the Court of Appeal. The process of appointment of judges set out in the Constitution must be respected to the letter and spirit of the Constitution. LfD notes that this delay sends a […]

Image: Rev. Gnansara known for his anti Muslim hate speeches an  inciting violence. 30th January 2019. Lawyers for Democracy (LfD) is concerned by reports indicating a possible grant of presidential pardon to Rev. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, who is well known for his aggressive conduct and inciting of violence, particularly communal hatred. Rev Gnansara has a […]

A group of concerned  citizens have drafted a petition addressed to President Sirisena requesting  to (a) Guarantee that Gnanasara will not be released on 4th of February 2019, and any plans to do so are immediately terminated and (b) Direct all agencies involved to expedite investigations into the crimes committed by Gnanasara including in Aluthgama 2014 and […]

The ongoing war of words in Parliament over the appointment of judges to the superior courts has an increasingly sinister dimension to it that must not be underestimated. Eerily familiar signs Taken together with the push by some politicians and supportive monks to seek a presidential pardon for General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, […]

By Tharindi Pabasara. The indictments against the seven defendants including former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa pertaining to the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case have been read out at the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar today (22). The case was taken up before the Special High Court three-judge bench comprising Judges Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne, and Champa Janaki […]

Commission will cover period between Jan. 2015 to Dec. 2018. Retired SC judge will head five member Commission. Probe will cover acts of corruption, fraud, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation of property, cheating and abuse or misuse of power or authority, state resources and privileges. Interim report required within three month & final report […]

Image: Weerawansa is a very close associate of Rajapaksa. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has vehemently condemned MP Wimal Weerawansa for casting aspersions on the judiciary by hiding behind parliamentary privileges, which prevent him from being dealt with for contempt. [ Weerawansa is leading pro Rajapaksa propagandist.) A statement titled ‘deplores statement made by […]

Any day is important, and some days are extra- special. However, the events that unfold on that special day would be fermented for over the years. Some years are extra-special too. The year 2019 is one such year. As the presidency enters into its fifth year, this would be the election year. This is also […]

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has made an initial announcement in parliament that the new Leader of the Opposition would be former president Mahinda Rajapaksa of the SLFP/UPFA.  However, this has been challenged by the TNA whose leader R Sampanthan previously held the position and who has not been removed from this position.  This has led to […]

Image: 24 day peaceful protest against Sirisena’s constitutional coup came to an end with the news of Rajapaksa’s resignation.(c)S.Deshapriya. But Sri Lanka’s biggest worry is a fresh eruption of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe power struggle. New space has emerged for de-escalating Sri Lanka’s political crisis with the timely and judicious intervention by the Sri Lankan Supreme Court. […]