Articles Archives - Right To Life Human Rights Center

Existing Laws Already Decriminalize Sex Work in Sri Lanka, Says Legal Expert

Attorney-at-Law Lakshan Dias has stated that sex work is effectively decriminalised in Sri Lanka under existing judicial interpretations, suggesting that the primary focus should be on recognizing this legal reality rather than drafting complex new legislation. Providing a comprehensive legal analysis, Mr. Dias noted that the Vagrants Ordinance, introduced in 1841 to control migrant plantation […]

Existing Laws Already Decriminalize Sex Work in Sri Lanka, Says Legal Expert Read More »

New Human Rights First Aid Centre Established in Colombo to Support Victims of Rights Violations

Articles, Events / Editor

The Colombo Human Rights First Aid Centre was officially launched on 13 March at the premises of the Right to Life Human Rights Centre, with the aim of providing legal assistance and essential knowledge to people in the Colombo District who face human rights violations. The event was attended by civil society activists and youth

New Human Rights First Aid Centre Established in Colombo to Support Victims of Rights Violations Read More »

Three Months After Cyclone Ditwa: How is the Recovery Process?

Articles, Climate / suneth gajanayake

Right to Life Human Rights Centre Three months have passed since Cyclone ‘Ditwa’ swept across Sri Lanka in late November. Although the focus of news headlines has shifted to other topics, the real struggle of the victims is not yet over. Ditwa was not merely a severe weather event, but a crucial moment that

Three Months After Cyclone Ditwa: How is the Recovery Process? Read More »

‘Sandhara’ Social Entrepreneurship Initiative Launched

Articles, Events / Editor

The new social entrepreneurship arm ‘Sandhara’, initiated by the Right to Life Human Rights Centre, was officially launched Today (28th) at Thalakotuwa Gardens, Colombo 05. The event commenced at 10.00 a.m. with former Speaker and leader of the National Movement for a Just Society, Karu Jayasuriya, attending as the Chief Guest. Former Member of Parliament

‘Sandhara’ Social Entrepreneurship Initiative Launched Read More »

Mapping the Ground: Discovering Entrepreneurial Potential in Human Rights Communities

Articles / Dini

Mapping the Ground: Discovering Entrepreneurial Potential in Human Rights Communities Having a bold vision for a “hybrid model” of business and justice is one thing; deciding exactly what to produce and sell is another. As we shifted our mindset from asking “Who will fund us?” to “How can we fund ourselves?”, we knew one thing

Mapping the Ground: Discovering Entrepreneurial Potential in Human Rights Communities Read More »

The Structural Crisis of Re Victimization in the Pursuit of Justice

Articles, Fair Justice Campaign / suneth gajanayake

Fair Justice Campaign, Right to Life Human Rights Centre Within the process of law enforcement and the administration of justice in Sri Lanka, the repeated re victimization of victims has become a common tragedy. The popular saying that those who go to court end up suffering did not emerge without reason. While many assume that

The Structural Crisis of Re Victimization in the Pursuit of Justice Read More »

Legacy of Injustice: How Archaic Laws Continue to Haunt Sri Lanka’s LGBTIQ Community

Articles, News / Dini

Sri Lanka’s legal landscape regarding the LGBTIQ community remains a complex web of colonial-era statutes and modern interpretations. While the constitution guarantees equality, a specific set of “archaic” laws relics of the British Victorian era are frequently weaponized to marginalize, harass, and prosecute individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Below is

Legacy of Injustice: How Archaic Laws Continue to Haunt Sri Lanka’s LGBTIQ Community Read More »

Supreme Court Judgment Reaffirms Absolute Ban on Torture and State Accountability

Articles, Landmark Cases / suneth gajanayake

In December 2025, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka delivered a landmark judgment in SC FR Application No. 186/2019, decisively reaffirming that torture is absolutely prohibited under the Constitution and that the State bears responsibility for abuses committed by police officers, regardless of whether such acts occur outside official duty hours or without uniform. This

Supreme Court Judgment Reaffirms Absolute Ban on Torture and State Accountability Read More »

Supreme Court Orders Police Officers to Pay Rs. 900,000 as Personal Compensation for Illegal Arrest and Custodial Torture

Articles, News / suneth gajanayake

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ordered five police officers to personally pay a total compensation of Rs. 900,000 to a farmer whose fundamental rights were violated through an unlawful arrest, custodial torture, and arbitrary prosecution. The judgment was delivered on 10 December 2025 by a three-judge Bench comprising Justice S. Thurairaja, PC, Justice

Supreme Court Orders Police Officers to Pay Rs. 900,000 as Personal Compensation for Illegal Arrest and Custodial Torture Read More »

Amitha Priyanthi Honoured as Human Rights Defender of the Year 2025

Articles, News / suneth gajanayake

Amitha Priyanthi was awarded the Human Rights Defender of the Year 2025 at the International Human Rights Day Commemoration held on 11 December at the BMICH, organised by the Right to Life Human Rights Centre This prestigious recognition honours her unwavering struggle for justice following the killing of her brother, Lasantha, in an attack by

Amitha Priyanthi Honoured as Human Rights Defender of the Year 2025 Read More »

Articles

MEDIA PLATFORMS