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Seminars
/ Workshops / Discussions
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16th October 1998 |
Comments and Observations on the Law Commission Report on Juvenile justice |
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1st October 1998 |
Submission to the Commission on Local Government Reforms |
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24th April 1998 |
Workshop on the role of the Ombudsman |
Comments
and Observations on the Law Commission Report
on Juvenile justice
16th October 1998
On 16 October 1998 the Commissioner of Probation and Child Care Services Mr. S. Ranuge invited CPA to submit its views and observations on the Draft Report on Juvenile Justice prepared by the Law Commission. CPA submitted its observations on this draft in November 1999. The CPA made its observations on matters such as enshrining of principles within the body of juvenile justice legislation, restorative justice values, choice of terminology, the constitution, age determination, and alternatives to arrest - police powers and duties, pre trial detention and release policy, protection for due process rights and equality of access to diversion, referral sentencing etc.
CPA suggested that the National Child Protection Authority which was established for the purpose of formulating a national policy on the prevention of child abuse and the protection and treatment of children who are victims of such abuse, be given the additional function of acting as the national monitoring body to ensure the effective implementation of proposed juvenile justice legislation. This, CPA felt would avoid the multiplication of institutions dealing with children's rights. CPA suggested that appropriate additional resources be given to the Child Protection Authority for the exercise of this additional responsibility.
Submissions to the Commission on Local Government Reforms
1st October 1998
The Commission of Inquiry on Local Government Reforms invited the public to submit recommendations for strengthening local government. CPA responded to this invitation and submitted a series of written recommendations. On receiving these submissions the Commission invited CPA to give evidence before the Commission on matters under inquiry. A delegation from CPA attended these sittings on 1st October 1998.
Workshop on the Role of the Ombudsman
24th April 1998
BMICH
The discussion on the office of the Ombudsman fell well within the mandate of CPA and was especially appropriate as there is a growing public interest, awareness and debate about issues of governance, questions of transparency and accountability and the transition to a healthier and more vibrant democracy. The role of Ombudsman fits into this frame work for good governance. The office of the Ombudsman needs to be augmented particularly since questions have been raised about the access of citizens to government and their confidence in the quality of governance available. The Former Swedish Ombudsman Ombudsman Ms. Gunnel Norell Soderblom and Ms. Cyrene Siriwardhana, Attorney-at-Law, and Director CPA presented papers at the seminar. Ms Soderblom spoke on the Role of the Ombudsman in Sweden whilst Ms. Siriwardhana presented a critical analysis of the Role of the Ombudsman in Sri Lanka and some comparisons with South Africa.
The panellists included Prof. Bertram Bastiampillai, the Ombudsman, Sri Lanka, Tyronne Fernando M.P. and former Minister of Justice, Mahinda Samarasinghe, M.P. Rajah Collure Former Member of Parliament and the General Secretary of the Communist Party, Nimalka Fernando, Attorney-at Law, Rohan Edrisinha Lecturer of the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, Director CPA.
The panel discussion focused on areas of inadequacies and lacunae in the Law and the resulting practical difficulties that impede the efficient functioning of the Office of the Ombudsman, Staff, improving the relationship of the Ombudsman's office with other government departments, inadequacy of resources, Ombudsman for special issues, and a lack of political will were some of the other issues touched upon at this workshop.
Follow up
CPA published a monograph titled 'The Role of the Ombudsman' on the proceeding of the workshop in Sinhala, English and Tamil on the proceedings of the seminar. The Ombudsman has welcomed the publication and he asked CPA for copies of the publication for training of staff. Copies of the publication were distributed to municipal and district libraries, university libraries and to civil society groups to create further awareness on the role of the Ombudsman and the prospects for further strengthening his powers and functions.
