Category: Legal
Sri Lanka lifts ban on sale of liquor to women
Jan 11, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finace Ministry announced that the government will lift the ban on sale of liquor to women in retails outlets and employment of women in bars. Issuing a statement the ministry said that Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera has revoked the prohibition on selling liquor to women and employing women […]
Sri Lanka press council law hinders RTI implementation: report
July 05, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Press Council Law, which is not consistent with the Right to Information (RTI) Act, can hinder the media from publishing information obtained through RTI, a research report said. The report, a collaboration between Verité Research and Democracy Reporting International, highlights for instance that obtaining information pertaining to cabinet […]
Sri Lanka blacklists 67 foreign recruitment agencies in 2017
July 03, 2017 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment has blacklisted licenses of 67 foreign recruitment agencies in the first half of this year. Lack of cooperation for dispute settlement, illegal recruitment, and preparing fake documents were among reasons to blacklist recruitment agencies. The bureau said in a statement that in 2016 […]
SAITM says ready to forge ahead amid protests
Feb 08, 2017 (LBO) – South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) says they are ready for the rough road ahead and will push ahead despite opposition from students and staff of state universities. “These protests are driven by politics and fear of competition,” Dr. Neville Fernando, founder and chairman of SAITM told reporters […]
Sri Lanka committee finalizing report on Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act
Feb 07, 2017 (LBO) – A committee appointed by Sri Lanka’s former Minister of Justice and Law Reform Milinda Moragoda to consider and recommend amendments to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act No 13 of 1951 is finalizing its report, a statement said. The committee was appointed in July 2009 with the approval of the […]
Sri Lanka’s Right to Information Act comes into force
Feb 03, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Right to Information (RTI) Act comes into effect today bringing with it a promise of open government, citizens’ active participation in governance, and accountability to the people of the country. The Ministry of Mass Media and Parliamentary Reform said that it has been laying the groundwork of RTI, […]
Sri Lanka’s government seeks public views to regulate news
Nov 23, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet nod has been received to obtain public opinion with regard to establishing an independent board to regulate news content published in media. As per the proposal, an independent board is to regulate news published in print, broadcasting and registered websites with the view of promoting professionalism and […]
Supreme Court upholds right to sing National Anthem in Tamil
Nov 18, 2016 (LBO) – A fundamental rights case challenging the legality of playing the National Anthem in the Tamil language at the Independence Day celebration on February 4, 2016 has been dismissed by the Supreme Court. Lawyer Mahanama De Silva, for petitioners V. S. Sudath Perera, M. P. Asiri Soysa and G. A. Don […]
Illegal arrest, torture and harassment continuing in Sri Lanka: AHRC
Nov 01, 2016 (LBO) – The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said on Tuesday an individual illegally arrested and tortured in Ja-Ela, and the harassment of a priest in Wattegama, are examples of failure to uphold the rule of law in Sri Lanka. The individual in Ja-Ela was produced before the Negombo Magistrate on a […]
Restoring normalcy in Sri Lanka north vital after shooting: NPC
Oct 25, 2016 (LBO) – Restoring normalcy in the north of Sri Lanka is of utmost importance after two students were shot dead at a police checkpoint, which triggered public protests, a civil society organization said. “The importance of restoring normalcy to the North has become evident in the aftermath of the fatal shooting incident […]
Sri Lanka Customs says information on fraud will be rewarded
Oct 14, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Customs says information regarding customs fraud will be rewarded, without giving details of the extent of the reward. All those who have information can contact the CIU on +94112471471, the department said on its website. Sri Lanka is currently exploring a draft policy to protect ‘whistleblowers’ to strengthen […]
Supreme Court says NBT amendment consistent with constitution
Sept 22, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Speaker of Parliament informing the Supreme Court determination today said the Nation Building Tax amendment bill is not inconsistent with the constitution. A public interest litigant activist filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Nation Building Tax bill charging that it imposes retrospective tax liability. The […]