Freedom of expression and fundamental rights

Tackling Hate Speech and Fake News

Admin March 19, 2021

Izzadeen Ameen Fake news is not new. It is as old as journalism itself or one could even say it is as old as the first lie spoken on the face of this earth. As to who spoke the first lie to mislead the first innocent fool is a matter for philosophers and scholars to […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights

Fake News and Ultra-Nationalistic Journalism

Admin March 19, 2021

Izzadeen Ameen In theory, journalists are expected to be neutral when reporting a conflict. But in practice, journalists rarely adhere to this hallowed journalistic principle of neutrality. They take sides, often driven by patriotism or nationalistic fervour. Such nationalistic bias is not the exclusive trait of journalists in Third World defective democracies or

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights

Sri Lanka needs a Firewall against the Fake News Virus

Admin March 19, 2021

Izzadeen Ameen “He speaks in accents familiar to his victims, wears their face and their arguments, rots the soul of a nation, and infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist.’’– Cicero, 2000 years ago, on the dissemination of fake news.” ++++ It is said that in journalism, dogs do not bite […]

Transparency and corruption in public service

The Economic Debate on the Harbor Jetty Oscillates between Illusion and Reality

Admin March 19, 2021

Sampath Deshapriya Although the government was prepared to lease the Eastern Terminal of the Port of Colombo to the Indian Adani Company, it was suppressed due to the influence of political groups within the government and nationalist forces that contributed to the coming to power of the current government. The deal was to divide the […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights Transparency and corruption in public service

Deteriorating child rights in establishments

Admin March 19, 2021

Jude R. Muthukuda Sri Lanka has been a country with a developed value system and a moral society since the olden days. Moral deterioration caused by the influence of foreign invasions and other factors poses a serious threat to the well-being of children today. The blatant violation of children’s rights, even in institutions committed to […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights Transparency and corruption in public service

Military Dictatorship or Radical Democracy? The Illusion of a Strong Leader :Part 1

Admin March 19, 2021

Asanka Abeyratne Sri Lankan politics should be extremely decisive during this decade. On the one hand, liberal chauvinism is over. On the other hand, the leftist movement is at a disadvantage. The most serious question is why right-wing populism persists despite the current socio-economic crisis and the collapse of the ruling party’s popularity and public […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights

Mediation Board

Admin March 19, 2021

Udeni Perera There is no social system without conflicts or disputes. There can be seen various institutions in the legal system in a country to solve disputes and crimes as they occur among different types of people in different forms. Therefore, the Mediation Board is established to resolve certain disputes through mediation without taking them […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights

Acknowledging and eliminating torture is protecting basic human rights. (Part II)

Admin March 19, 2021

Dinee Fernando Under the Human Rights Commission Act, it has the power to investigate and prosecute a situation in which torture has occurred or is imminent. It has also made it possible for authorized officials to inspect police stations, prisons and other detention centres and to provide reports and necessary recommendations. These provisions seek to […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights

What is torture? Let’s identify the laws against it. (Part I)

Admin March 19, 2021

Dinee Fernando Tortue is one of the top most intolerable, unacceptable behaviours of human beings. But is a common belief among people that torture is a very effective method in implementing “good” discipline.  Historical evidence proves that various forms of torture had been used prominently and openly as a means of punishment in ancient Sri […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights

Mass Hysteria and Mass Media

Admin March 19, 2021

Lilani Dias In the age we live in, nothing escapes the eye of the media – this is often useful to spur action regarding matters that otherwise go unnoticed. When no one listens to you, and there are no other means of sharing your message, the last help you can expect to get in order […]