Category: Legal
Foreign Minister launches e-service for copies of Birth, Marriage & Death certificates for overseas Sri Lankans
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath in partnership with the Registrar General’s Department launched the pilot project to facilitate overseas Sri Lankans to obtain certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates through Sri Lanka Missions abroad. The system provides Missions access to the e-BMD database (electronic – Birth, Marriage and Death certificate Database) of the Registrar […]
Supreme Court Justice Murdu Fernando takes oath as Sri Lanka’s 48th Chief Justice
Supreme Court Justice Murdu Nirupa Bidushinie Fernando was officially sworn in as the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (02) at the Presidential Secretariat. She assumes office as the 48th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, succeeding Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, who recently retired. Her appointment received approval from the […]
Sri Lanka elected to the UN Commission on International Trade Law
Sri Lanka was among thirty-one (31) members elected to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 2024. Sri Lanka contested for a seat from the Asia Pacific Group, and secured 177 votes. This was the second highest number of votes within the group, and second […]
TISL Raises Alarm Over Violation of Election Laws by Palmyrah Development Board
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL) regarding recent appointments made at the Palmyrah Development Board (PDB) in Jaffna, which appear to contravene current election laws. On October 10, Selvin Ireneuss Mariampillai was appointed as Chairman of the PDB. Just 12 days later, on […]
Central Bank of Sri Lanka Discontinues Pension Payments for Governors
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has announced a significant change in its pension policy for former Governors, effective from September 11, 2024. Under the revised rules, any Governor appointed after January 1, 1998, will no longer be eligible for pension payments. This move comes as part of a broader reform under the CBSL […]
TISL Challenges the Companies (Amendment) Bill
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) filed legal action on Friday the 13th of September in the Supreme Court challenging the Bill issued on 06th August 2024 to amend the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007. The amendment introduced a much-needed anti-corruption tool to Sri Lanka’s legal framework – a Beneficial Ownership register. A publicly accessible […]
Tribute: Vishwaka Peiris – Attorney at Law (1996 – 2024)
August 11, 2024 (LBO) – Gone to soon… Life is a mystery which the mind can never truly comprehend. We try to explain the unexplainable through religion, spirituality, medicine, psychology or even philosophy. However, the reality is that life will always be beyond mere human understanding. Such was the case in the demise of my […]
TISL Challenges Controversial VFS Visa Deal in Supreme Court
A fundamental rights petition (SC/FR/221/2024) was filed in the Supreme Court today (July 30) by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) calling for action against the procedural violations and abuse of public trust by officials in the procurement of private entities to handle the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for the issuance of visas for tourists […]
Justice Sector Goes Digital: Launch of the Commercial High Court Website
The justice sector in Sri Lanka took a significant leap forward with the successful launch of the Commercial High Court website www.colchc.gov.lk/home, developed with the support of the European Union funded ‘Support to Justice Reform (JURE)’ project, jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNICEF in Sri Lanka and facilitated by the Ministry […]
Supreme Court Determination of the Public Financial Management Bill
The Supreme Court today held that the Clauses 32(3) and 32(4) of the Public Financial Management Bill are unconstitutional, and shall only be passed with a Special Majority of Parliament and be approved by the People at a Referendum. Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) challenged the Bill in the Supreme Court on the basis that […]
TISL Challenges the Public Financial Management Bill in the Supreme Court
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) filed legal action on Wednesday the 5th of June in the Supreme Court challenging the Public Financial Management Bill, highlighting concerns related to public procurement. The petition (SC SD 77/2024) points out that Clause 32 of the Bill seriously weakens the controls on public procurement, thereby enhancing the corruption risk […]
USAID Supports Enhancing Investment Climate Through Commercial Alternative Dispute Resolution
The United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is supporting Sri Lanka’ s efforts to improve its investment climate by enhancing access to commercial alternative dispute resolution (ADR). This initiative has led to the U.S.-sponsored training and accreditation of 23 international commercial mediators in Sri Lanka, doubling the number of qualified […]