Centre for Policy Alternatives on 10 February, 2022

Why the amendments to the Prevention of Terrorism Act are insufficient (A Visual Summary)

CPA’s commentary on the proposed amendments to the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act note the minimalist approach and basic reforms insufficient to address ground realities. Aspects which require urgent reform as highlighted by legal scholars, civil society actors and even the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka have also not been addressed in the Bill. […]

Categories: CommentaryDocumentsMedia GalleryPublic Interest LitigationPublic Interest Litigation submissionsResearch and Advocacy
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 31 January, 2022

Commentary on Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2022

31st January, 2022, Colombo, Sri Lanka: This commentary examines in brief, proposed amendments for the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) which were approved by Cabinet on 24 January 2022 and subsequently gazetted. The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has prepared this document as an initial comment to the proposed amendments with further advocacy […]

Categories: All DocumentsCommentaryResearch and Advocacy
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 17 December, 2021

A Commentary: Legal and Policy Issues related to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka

December 17th, 2021, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The COVID-19 health crisis has posed a range of unprecedented legal, political, economic and social challenges for Sri Lanka since March, 2020. While the government was successful in containing the first wave of COVID-19, the pandemic response has since unravelled, revealing issues with the heavily militarised and politicised approach […]

Categories: All DocumentsCommentaryPolicy BriefsResearch and Advocacy
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 29 November, 2021

Comment: Legality of the State Response to the Right to Protest in the light of the Covid-19 Pandemic

November 29th, 2021: The right to protest, as manifested in the freedom of assembly, association, and expression, is an important feature of a democratic society that facilitates civic engagement in political processes beyond just voting at elections. This right is vital for the healthy functioning of a democracy, and while it is recognized that the […]

Categories: All DocumentsCommentaryResearch and Advocacy
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 14 October, 2021

CPA Statement on the Proposed Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure Act

14th October, 2021, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is deeply concerned about the proposed Bill to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, published in the Gazette on the 8th of October 2021. The proposed amendments seek to dispense with the requirement of producing a suspect or accused before the Magistrate […]

Categories: CommentaryDocumentsPress Releases
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 2 September, 2021

Initial comment on the Declaration of a State of Emergency and Regulations for the Maintenance of Essential Supplies and Services

September, 2, 2021, Colombo, Sri Lanka: On the 30th of August 2021, by way of Gazette 2243/1, President Gotabaya Rajapakse issued a proclamation under Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40) as amended. In the Proclamation, the President states that ‘I am of the opinion that it is considered expedient to do so […]

Categories: CommentaryDocuments
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 19 July, 2021

A brief guide to the 20th Amendment to the Constitution

19th July, 2021, The Sri Lankan government enacted a Constitutional Amendment within the first two months of its coming into power in August, 2020. The 20th Amendment to the Constitution, so enacted, bears as its central feature the concentration of powers in the Executive President, and thereby erodes several of the democratic reforms introduced by […]

Categories: All DocumentsCommentaryConstitutionPublic Interest Litigation