Initiated in 2000, සාමවිමර්ශී (Sama Vimarshi) July 2020 Issue is a critical examination into the timely issues on human rights, peace and conflict analysis, democratic practices, diversity and people’s participation in governance among many other contemporary key areas of concern in relation to the upcoming 2020 parliamentary elections. The journal includes independent narratives from representatives […]
June 22nd 2020, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) welcomes the steps taken by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to give effect to the Official Language Policy by issuing Gazette No. 2135/53 dated 07.08.2019 (also in Sinhala and Tamil) which was amended by Gazette No. 2156/16 dated 31.12.2019 (also in Sinhala and […]
June 15th 2020, Colombo, Sri Lanka: We, the undersigned from civil society express grave concern regarding the establishment of a spate of Presidential Task Forces in the last few months. Three Task Forces were appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a response to COVID-19. One has extensive powers to direct, coordinate and monitor the delivery […]
Sri Lanka has witnessed a spate of Presidential Task Forces in 2020. Three Task Forces were appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a response to COVID-19, another relating to poverty alleviation and one on education affairs.[1] The most recent two are the Presidential Task Force to build a Secure Country, Disciplined, Virtuous and Lawful Society […]
5th June 2020, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is deeply concerned by the appointment this week of two Presidential Task Forces by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. These appointments came soon after the Supreme Court refused leave to proceed to all petitioners on the subject of the dissolution of Parliament for more than […]
The need for prison reforms has been discussed for years in Sri Lanka with very little progress. The COVID19 pandemic has renewed attention to the issue in an urgent manner. Systemic issues within prisons in Sri Lanka expose inmates and staff to heightened risks due to both the contagiousness of the virus as well as […]
ANFREL and six domestic election observation groups, including ANFREL members PAFFREL and CMEV, released the “COVID-19 Code of Conduct for Election Observers” ahead of the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary elections. This document is a joint initiative from organizations both domestic and international intending to observe the parliamentary elections of Sri Lanka. The polls were initially […]