Category: Legal
Data Protection Bill should not be passed until serious concerns are addressed: Transparency International
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) calls on Members of Parliament to not rush through enacting the law until concerns are addressed. On the 9th of March 2022, the Personal Data Protection Bill is scheduled for the second reading in Parliament. This Bill aims to regulate the processing of personal data by identifying and strengthening the […]
European Union, UNDP & UNICEF join hands to launch Justice Reform Programme in Sri Lanka
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) with funding from the European Union, along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Sri Lanka have come together to launch the Justice Reform (JURE) Programme. This new flagship initiative, funded by the EU for EUR 18 million (approx. LKR 4 billion) […]
Gravely concerned about looming economic crisis in Sri Lanka: Bar Association
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) calls upon the government to seek the assistance of acknowledged independent and non-partisan experts both domestically and internationally and also of multilateral institutions that have a proven record of providing resources financially as well as in the form of technical expertise that will enable sustainable solutions to the […]
‘s Supreme Court Complex with Rs. 7.68bn grant
The Government of China has allocated 7.68 billion rupees as a grant to completely renovate the Supreme Court complex where the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal are currently located. The project was implemented under the patronage of Justice Minister Ali Sabri today. The agreement was signed between the Secretary to the Ministry of […]
TISL concerned by delays in RTI Commission appointments
The Right to Information (RTI) Commission, which is the central appellate and monitoring body established under the Right to Information Act of Sri Lanka, is one of the most important independent public institutions in the country today. The Commission is empowered to play a critical role under the RTI law, including hearing matters on appeal, making recommendations for reform, issuing guidelines on record management and […]
UN expert calls for ‘inclusive society’ to end scourge of slavery in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has a robust legal framework to tackle contemporary forms of slavery and been making progress in other areas, such as increasing minimum age of employment from 14 to 16 and the establishment of a child-labour free zone. However, Sri Lanka must become more inclusive and embrace all sectors of society if it is […]
Intl Arbitration Centre to be developed as Intl Commercial Dispute Resolution Centre for Port City
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Justice and the Colombo Port City Economic Commission was signed on Wednesday at the Ministry of Justice, with a view to developing the Sri Lanka International Arbitration Centre as an International Commercial Dispute Resolution Centre for the Colombo Port City. Development of the Sri Lanka International Arbitration […]
Committee on demarcation of jurisdiction proposes to establish new Courts & increase Judges
The Committee appointed to review demarcation of jurisdiction and to increase the number of Courts presented its report to the Minister of Justice Ali Sabry on Thursday, at the Ministry of Justice. The report of the committee headed by Justice Mahinda Samayawardhena, Judge of the Supreme Court, includes proposals for increasing the number of Courts […]
New Supreme Court Judge and New President of Court of Appeal sworn in
The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Arjuna Obeysekera, was sworn in as a Supreme Court Judge before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (14). Court of Appeal Judge Priyantha Fernando was sworn in as the new President of the Court of Appeal and former High Court Judge Shashi Mahendra was […]
Sanjay Rajaratnam sworn in as new Attorney General
President’s Counsel Sanjay Rajaratnam was sworn in as the new Attorney General before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat, today (26). Sanjaya Rajaratnam is the 48th Attorney General of Sri Lanka.He has been serving the Attorney General’s Department for the last 34 years, he went onto hold the post of Senior State Counsel, Deputy […]
Serious concerns linger about new Colombo Port City Law: Transparency International
On the 20th of May 2021, the Parliament of Sri Lanka passed the Colombo Port City Economic Bill into law. Two days prior to the vote on the Bill, the Speaker of Parliament revealed to the members of Parliament and the general public the determination given by the Supreme Court of the Country with regard […]
Certain clauses in Port City Bill inconsistent with Constitution: SC (Full Determination)
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informed Parliament today that some clauses in the Port City Economic Commission Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution and can be passed through a special majority and a referendum. The Supreme Court, however, determined that these clauses can be passed only if amended. The decision of the Supreme Court was handed […]