Category: Legal

Jan 18, 2012 (LBO) – Wikipedia will be blacked out from 5. 00 UTC (10.30 am Sri Lanka time) protesting two proposed laws in the US which it says will “would seriously damage the free and open Internet” if implemented. Reports said President Obama may veto both bills. “It is the opinion of the English […]

Jan 05, 2012 (LBO) – The brother of a murdered British tourist, has called for justice and a speedy conclusion to an investigation in which a politician of a local council and several others are held by the police. Rustkacheva, a Russian national had been dragged to the beach and raped, media reports said. Sri […]

Dec 29, 2011 (LBO) – A Singapore arbitrator has ordered Citibank to pay Sri Lanka’s state petroleum refiner 2.5 million US dollars as legal fees in an oil hedging deal dispute, a statement said. The arbitrator in August 2011 voided an oil hedging deal between Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Citibank, rejecting the bank’s demand for […]

Dec 19, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has to re-build an independent public service and restore rule of law to give freedom to citizens, a commission of inquiry on lessons learnt and reconciliation following the end of a 30-year civil war has said. “A democracy must assure a fair system of governance under the Rule […]

Dec 01, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Securities and Exchange Commission chief Indrani Sugathadasa has resigned, within weeks of the watchdog’s director general being removed by the cabinet of ministers. Sugathadasa is a retired public official who has been in many senior positions in government service. Sugathadasa said she had tendered her resignation “having considered […]

Nov 20, 2011 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan activist who had petitioned courts to review an expropriation law says recent interpretations given by state spokesmen may mislead citizens whose property was seized. Sri Ameresekere, an accountant who has been involved in several public interest petitions said statements by Sri Lanka’s central bank and information minister […]

Nov 14, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court came under fire in parliament on a debate on an expropriation bill, after the highest court reportedly said it was consistent with the constitution. The bill went to the Supreme Court after the cabinet of ministers gave their assent. “How can the Supreme Court, like this […]

Nov 11, 2011 (LBO) – Two Sri Lankan visa applicants for travel to the United Kingdom were arrested this week when their attempt to use fake identities were detected with the help of fingerprints scans. UK visa applicants worldwide are required to provide their biometric data, having their fingers scanned and a digital photograph taken […]

Nov 11, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan lawmakers expressed deep concern over a hastily passed expropriation law, which they said arrogated judicial and executive roles to elected members, undermining a constitutional separation of powers and violated property rights. “This bill has been drafted with no regard to the basic process of legislating,” opposition lawmaker and […]

NEW YORK, November 8, 2011 (AFP) – Disgraced hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam, already sentenced to prison for 11 years, was ordered Tuesday to pay almost $93 million dollars as part of an insider trading case brought by financial regulators. A New York federal judge ordered Rajaratnam to pay the $92.8 million in a case […]

Nov 09, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka passed a law to expropriate assets of dozens of enterprises despite protests from trade chambers, religious and opposition groups who warned that it will scare off investors. A 30-year war ended in 2009, but expected foreign direct investment had not materialized. “[W]e believe that the proposed Bill may […]

Nov 08, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has said a draft law to expropriate assets of some three dozen private enterprises is consistent with the island’s constitution in a determination read out by the deputy speaker in the island’s parliament. The controversial bill was referred to the Supreme Court by Sri Lanka’s President […]