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

Public Consultation on Constitutional Reforms

Admin March 19, 2021

Dhanushka Silva The constitution is the supreme and basic law of a country. It is the base document that distributes the sovereignty of the people into diverse institutes. Indirectly, the constitution is an instrument that integrates people’s sovereignty and directs people’s power for

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights

The constitutionality of education and identifying the gaps

Admin March 19, 2021

Dhanushka Silva Student unions and activists believe that they are responsible for protecting educational rights and inheriting them to future generations. They protest the private university concept setting forth slogans against the commodification of education and for safeguarding the right of education. It has become their identity.  Usually, the term ‘rights’ is

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights

The unresolved problem of the displaced persons

Admin March 19, 2021

Neville Uditha Weerasinghe Three persons, including MP Rishad Badurdeen, were re-remanded on 10th November 2020 until November 13th. Colombo Fort Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage said when the case was summoned again, the request for the suspect’s release on bail would be reconsidered at the next hearing. – Ada Derana The charge against former Minister Badurdeen was […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights

Why do we need a new Constitution?

Admin March 19, 2021

Dhanushka Silva Post-Independence, no Constitution in this country has been able to provide the Constitutional framework necessary for a just society. It is evident that it will be difficult to solve the baffling issues generated by the 1978 Constitution which are hitherto unresolved, outside the context of the drafting of a new Constitution. The incumbent […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights

The Rights of Trade Zone Employee under the Covid Pandemic

Admin March 19, 2021

Indunil Usgoda Arachchi While the Covid-19 pandemic poses a threat to people all over the world, Sri Lanka’s Free Trade Zone workers were severely affected. From the very beginning of the outbreak in the country, they faced job losses, loss of wages, loss of food and other basic necessities and others. The owners of the […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights

Contradiction between the ICCPR Law and its Use

Admin March 19, 2021

Indunil Usgoda Arachchi The writer, Shakthika Sathkumara was arrested by the Polgahawela Police on April 1st, 2019 due to him publishing a short story called ‘Ardha’ on his Facebook page. The police report to the court claimed that based on the provisions of Article 3(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) […]

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 […]

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 […]