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  A major problem in Sri Lanka is the gap between aspirations and reality, words and deeds, laws and their implementation. Gender relations is no exception.  The Women Organised for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) Learning and Advocacy Symposium organized by the National Peace Council (NPC) brought together more than 120 women leaders and activists […]

By Jehan Perera The northern town of Vavuniya which was once at the front lines of the war is now a peaceful and bustling urban centre. Its physical infrastructure leaves much to be desired, with rundown buildings, and open drains that emit an unpleasant smell. Vavuniya has not had the fortune of a political patron

In a significant step towards promoting human rights, the Gampola Human Rights First Aid Center officially opened its doors during a ceremony attended by key figures in the field. The inauguration ceremony, graced by Mr. Philip Dissanayake, Executive Director of the Right to Life Human Rights Center, marked a crucial moment for the cause. The

The Colombo High Court has handed down a death sentence to two former police officers from the Peliyagoda Police Station after finding them guilty of the brutal assault and subsequent death of a suspect in their custody in 2005. In a landmark verdict delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe today, the Sub-Inspector of

  In a landmark national symposium organized by the National Peace Council on the theme of “Religions to Reconcile: Strengthening Inclusive Reconciliation,” political leaders, religious clergy, and grassroots representatives converged to discuss the imperative shift from negative peace to positive peace in resolving the ethnic conflict and achieving national reconciliation. The symposium witnessed the participation

Sri Lankan victims have lost count of the number of government commissions established to look into gross violations of human rights, as yet another one is about to be established, said four international rights groups in a joint statement. It has been issued by ITJP, WAN, FOD and CHRD. Their statement says, “The Truth, Unity

In a recent gathering on February 13th, the Sri Lanka Collective Against Torture (SLCAT) convened to discuss pressing issues related to human rights violations, with a particular focus on the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the Yukthiya anti-drugs operation. SLCAT, formed in 2009 and consisting of 27 organizations working together to combat torture in

In a bold move, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) actively engaged in the co-creation of Sri Lanka’s third National Action Plan have collectively decided to withdraw from the Open Government Partnership (OGP). This withdrawal serves as a powerful expression of opposition to recent actions taken by the Sri Lankan Government, notably the passage of the controversial

In a press statement released today, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) expressed deep concern over the process followed in enacting the Online Safety Act (OSA) in Sri Lanka. The organization raised serious questions about the implications of the law-making process on constitutional democracy in the country. The CPA highlighted the lack of transparency in

In a highly anticipated virtual event on February 29, 2024, Freedom House launched its flagship report, “Freedom in the World 2024: The Mounting Damage of Flawed Elections and Armed Conflict.” This annual report has been a critical barometer of political rights and civil liberties globally since its inception in 1973. The event, conducted on Zoom