Category: Legal
UNICEF welcomes commencement of amendments to Children & Young Persons Ordinance
UNICEF welcomes the long-awaited amendment to the Children and Young Persons Ordinance (CYPO) coming into force effective January 1, 2024, which marks a significant step towards protecting the rights and welfare of all children in Sri Lanka. The CYPO, a legislation governing justice for children in Sri Lanka since 1939, previously only covered those up […]
Microfinance & Credit Regulatory Authority Bill: TISL Files Petition in Supreme Court
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) yesterday (January 22) petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the ‘Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill’, stating that it fails to sufficiently address or introduce a fit scheme to enable the regulation of the extortive and predatory practices that microfinance lenders engage in at the grassroots levels. The Bill was placed […]
Bar Association Defends New Regulations for Foreign LL.B. Degree Holders
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has released a statement defending the proposed regulations for entry into the legal profession for holders of foreign Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degrees. The statement comes in response to an Adjournment Motion being discussed in Parliament concerning the matter. The BASL emphasizes the importance of establishing minimum qualifications […]
Ranee Jayamaha & Sanjeeva Jayawardena submitted their resignations well before SC judgement: CBSL
Both Dr. Ranee Jayamaha and Sanjeeva Jayawardena submitted their resignations well before the Supreme Court made its final judgement on 14.11.2023 with regard to the Fundamental Rights Case filed on Economic Crisis, the Central Bank said. Releasing a statement, the Central Bank said Dr. Ranee Jayamaha who was a member of the Monetary Board (MB) […]
‘s economic crisis FR case
The full Supreme Court decision on Sri Lanka’s economic crisis Fundamental Rights petition has been published. The Supreme Court gave a majority ruling that the former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, former Governors of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Prof W.D Lakshman and Ajith Nivard Cabraal, […]
Supreme Court Allows TISL to Intervene in X-Press Pearl Case
Earlier this year, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) filed an intervention petition in the Supreme Court, seeking permission to intervene in Case No. SC/FR 168/2021, which was filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice seeking fair compensation for the victims of the XPress Pearl disaster. The Attorney General strongly objected to the intervention. Today (6th […]
Sobitha Rajakaruna takes oath as Acting President of Court of Appeal before President
Judge Sobitha Rajakaruna was sworn in as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (07). Additionally, High Court Judge M.C.B. Sanjeeva Moraes took oath as a new Court of Appeal judge in the presence of the President.The event was attended by the President’s Secretary, […]
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 […]