Transparency and corruption in public service

Democracy & Development in the Provincial Council (Part 1)

Admin March 19, 2021

Sampath Deshapriya Provincial council elections and the provincial council system at large have once again become a major political topic in the country. At the same time, there is a debate as to whether the Provincial Council elections will be held under the old system or under the new system.

Transparency and corruption in public service

Democracy & Development in the Provincial Council (Part 2)

Admin March 19, 2021

Sampath Deshapriya In Sri Lanka, Provincial Councils have the power to make statutes on their subjects, but this has barely been implemented. Even the Northern Provincial Council, which came into power after the end of the war, has almost no charter of its own. All that was done was a passing of resolutions from time […]

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

UNHRC Resolution 30/1, OHCHR Report and International Accountability – Part 2

Admin March 19, 2021

Harindrini Corea The Report on Sri Lanka, by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, prior to the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2021, was published on the 27th of January this year. The Report was submitted as per the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 40/1 […]

Transparency and corruption in public service

The Role of the Public Utilities Commission in Combating Corruption

Admin March 19, 2021

Harindrini Corea The order for closure of the Public Utilities Commission on the 01st of December 2020 has raised concerns in the country. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka was incorporated by way of Act No.35 of 2002 which established the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) along with the Sri Lanka Electricity Act No. 20 […]

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

To be or not to be: Existential crisis during a pandemic

Admin March 18, 2021

Lilani Dias There is the individual- locked up inside the house and cannot go out unless authorized to do so. Food and other necessities are supplied (assuming this individual is lucky), and every move of the said individual is monitored. This may sound like a scene from George Orwell’s novel “1984”, or its movie adaptation- […]

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

Right to information and the role of media – Part 1

Admin March 18, 2021

Jayasiri Jayasekara As Harold J. Laski stated, a nation that does not have access to the accurate information would be slaves of others one day. Accordingly, the right to information is the key to be free from slavery. This key was hidden in a secret chest until 2016 No. 12 Right to Information Act was […]

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

Alleged Rights Denial of Corona Infected Sri Lankans in Dubai

Admin March 17, 2021

K.M. Razool Following the spread of the coronavirus, information on social networking sites, including Facebook, has become increasingly vocal about the plight of many Sri Lankans who are working in foreign countries and have no way to return home safely. On this basis, a large number of posts about distressed Sri Lankan workers in the […]

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

Whither Sri Lanka? Where are we in the corruption indices?

Admin March 16, 2021

Ananda Dharmapriya Jayasekara The legal definition of corruption in Sri Lanka as per article 70 of Bribery Act of 1954 No. 11 amended by Act No. 20 of 1994 is as follows:  Any public servant who, with intent, to cause wrongful or unlawful loss to the Government, or to confer a wrongful or unlawful benefit, […]

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

20th amendment and the Right to Information

Admin March 16, 2021

Jagath Liyanaarachchi The twentieth amendment to the constitution of Sri Lanka was passed in the parliament on 22nd October 2020. The speaker set his signature and ratified the 20th amendment since 29th October 2020. The 20th amendment did not bring in any change to the Right to Information which was introduced by the 19th amendment. […]

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

Both Democracy and Good Governance are like Oxygen

Admin March 16, 2021

Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe Democracy, good governance and modernity cannot be imported or exported to or from a country. -Emil Lahood (Former president in Lebanon) In present, there are many discussions over governance and good governance. Some politicians and media authorities use the word “good governance” to introduce the Sri Lankan government that prevailed from 2015