Category: Legal
Sri Lanka ratifies Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Sri Lanka deposited the instrument of ratification of CTBT with the UN Office of Legal Affairs (UNOLA) on 25 July 2023 at the UN Headquarters in New York becoming the 178th State to ratify the CTBT. By depositing CTBT instrument of ratification, Sri Lanka’s status as a signatory is elevated to a complete State Party to […]
Sri Lanka to introduce reforms on insolvency laws
The Cabinet has approved a joint proposal presented by the President and the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reform to authorize the Law Commission to prepare a preliminary draft of the insolvency laws within a period of three (03) months after consultation with the relevant parties. Reforms in the insolvency laws for unincorporated […]
TISL takes bribery & corruption allegations surrounding X-Press Pearl Disaster to Supreme Court
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) filed a petition in the Supreme Court yesterday (June 12), seeking to intervene in the ongoing Fundamental Rights case (SC/FR/Application No.168/2021) filed by the Center for Environmental Justice (CEJ) and three more petitioners, highlighting the serious allegations of bribery and corruption surrounding the X-Press Pearl disaster. The intervention petition is […]
TISL Welcomes Anti-Corruption Bill, but Flags Two Major Concerns
The proposed Anti-Corruption Bill contains several laudable provisions that seek to improve upon the existing anti-corruption legal framework in Sri Lanka, TISL, Deputy Executive Director Sankhitha Gunaratne said. The proposed Anti-Corruption Bill, which seeks to replace the Bribery Act (Chapter 26), the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption Act No. 19 of 1994, […]
Proposed Counterterrorism Bill Breaks Government Pledge to End Abuse, says Human Rights Watch
The government of Sri Lanka’s proposed Anti-Terrorism Act would empower the authorities to systematically violate fundamental human rights, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should withdraw the bill and ensure through consultations that any counterterrorism legislation upholds international human rights standards, Human Rights Watch said. The government pledged to adopt an improved law following domestic and international […]
‘ RTI
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) welcomes the landmark determination of the Court of Appeal this week that affirms the order of the Right to Information Commission to disclose the requested information on the Declarations of Assets and Liabilities of Members of Parliament in Sri Lanka. In February 2021, the Right to Information (RTI) Commission in […]
Draft Central Bank of Sri Lanka Bill to be presented in Parliament
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal submitted by the President as the Finance Minister to publish the Central Bank of Sri Lanka draft Bill in the Government Gazette and then submit it to Parliament for approval. The Attorney General’s clearance has been received for the draft Bill.
Cabinet nod to new Central Bank of Sri Lanka bill
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved the new Central Bank of Sri Lanka bill which will be presented in Parliament next year. The original bill gazetted in November 2019 has been improved by incorporating new amendments in order to be able to perform the work of the Central Bank more efficiently and effectively to […]
‘s draft ‘rehabilitation’ law would spur abuse: Human Rights Watch
The Sri Lankan government should withdraw a draft law that would give the authorities broad powers to detain people in military-run “rehabilitation” centers, placing them at great risk of abuse, Human Rights Watch said today. The Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill, submitted to parliament on September 23, 2022, would allow the compulsory detention in centers of “drug dependant persons, […]
Ranjan Ramanayake granted conditional presidential pardon
President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (26) signed the document granting conditional presidential pardon to former Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake, who is currently serving a four year sentence on charges of contempt of court. The President has granted pardon on the condition that Ramanayake should not make any statement critical or derogatory of the entire judiciary in future. […]
Amendment to Penal Code protecting LGBTQ+ rights of Sri Lankans handed over to President
A bill to amend the Penal Code with the aim of protecting the rights of the LGBTQ+ communities in Sri Lanka was handed over to President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (24) by Member of Parliament and lawyer Premanath C. Dolawatta. This bill to amend the Penal Code was submitted to the Parliament yesterday (23) by MP […]
Sri Lanka to introduce new law on contempt of court
As the offense of contempt of court has not been defined in Sri Lanka, there is no clear and uniform procedure for hearing and adjudicating such cases. As a result, it is difficult to identify the limits of interference in the justice process and the limits on the right to freedom of expression. It seems […]