Centre for Policy Alternatives on 15 June, 2020 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 […]
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 5 June, 2020 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 […]
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 1 June, 2020 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 […]
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 22 April, 2020 22nd April 2020, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) notes the Election Commission’s announcement that parliamentary elections will be held on 20 June 2020. This announcement comes during a period in which the number of persons who have tested positive for Covid -19 continue to increase and the “curfew” and quarantine measures imposed […]
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 21 April, 2020 Curfews, which are generally understood to be a government regulation requiring people to remain indoors during specified hours, are a means of restricting the fundamental freedom of free movement, in view of a greater public aim such as ensuring public health, national security, public safety and such purposes. Whilst such restrictions are permissible, they must […]
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 13 April, 2020 All active election observation missions in Sri Lanka, including CMEV, have issued a joint statement urging all relevant authorities to resolve their issues regarding a new election date with the mutual understanding of not creating a constitutional crisis against the backdrop of COVID19. The joint statement points out that: It is undesirable to head into […]
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 8 April, 2020 7 April 2020 C.D. Wickremaratne Acting Inspector General of Police Police Headquarters Colombo 1. CC: Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary, Ministry of Defence Chairperson, National Police Commission Chairperson, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Re: Notice Issued by the Police Media Division On 1 April 2020 the Media Division of the Sri Lanka Police, upon the instructions […]