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Two days after the introduction of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, which seeks to overthrow President Gotabhaya Rajapakse, the number of petitions challenging it has risen to 12 in the Supreme Court. The Attorney General has filed six petitions in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, September 23 and six on Thursday, September 24, court […]

Human rights issues related to enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka still continue. The grievances and the anxieties of those loved ones of the disappeared due to the ‘88-89 insurgency and the three-decade-long separatist war exist to this day. In this context Daily Mirror spoke to human rights activist and award-winning filmmaker Dr Visakesa Chandrasekaram to

The Government had decided to grant Presidential pardon to prisoners imprisoned for minor offenses. Prison Headquarters said, a general pardon will be granted to prisoners who are unable to pay fines and bails. Meanwhile, it also stated that it has been decided to reduce the imprisonment time for minor offenses over 65 years old inmates.

Phnom Penh, 13 August 2020 – We, the undersigned national and international organizations and communities, call on the Royal Government of Cambodia (“RGC”) to immediately discard the repressive draft Law on Public Order and uphold its obligations under international human rights law. The draft law contains an extensive array of provisions that effectively criminalize the

Dr. Deepika Udagama, Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has submitted her resignation letter to the Constitutional Council and it has been accepted by the Constitutional Council, according to Parliament media section. This has been mentioned on the official Twitter account of the parliament. Her resignation will take effect in next

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has issued Guidelines to Police Officers on Parliamentary General Election 2020, which have been sent to the Acting Inspector General of Police. The main objective of these guidelines is to make police officers aware of action that has to be taken to protect fundamental rights during elections. In addition

Harini Amarasuriya is a national list nominee of the National People’s Power (NPP). A renowned academic, she began her activism in 2011 with the Federation of University Teachers Association and has been a vocal supporter of the NPP. Q Your educational and professional qualifications? PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, UK. Senior

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is bringing to your notice this case of alleged torture, illegal arrest and detention of Liyanage Pasindu Yasantha Perera by some officers of Kalutara District Crime Division CASE NARRATIVE: On the morning of 18th May 2020, Police officers attached to the Kalutara District Crime Division of the Kalutara Police

The murder of George Floyd in the United States has in the past week resulted in a renewed focus on police violence, torture, brutality and impunity. Coincidentally, two cases of Police brutality and violence-those of Kavinda Isuru and Thariq Ahamed –have received a lot of attention on social media in Sri Lanka, but unequally. Thariq’s

The wattala Magistrate has ordered to Ragama Police to take actions to protect Bandula Liyanarachchi, who is the  eyewitnesses of the assassination of Isuru kavinda, at the Mahara Prison. Isuru Kavinda, who lived in Kadawatha died on May 3rd at the Mahara Prison. Prison officials informed Public  that he died when he tried to escape

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) said, that there were around 8500 child abuse complaints received last year. Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority, Professor Muditha Vidanapathirana said, out of these cases, 235 complaints have been received regarding the use of children as labors. He said, ‘‘we get a lot of complaints to 1929

Civil society organizations and activists have issued a press release stating that the functioning of the Presidential Task Force established in the recent past should be closely monitored. They show here specifically, that the all the Presidential Task Forces have a compliment of military personnel while the Presidential Task Force to build a Secure Country,