Centre for Policy Alternatives on 10 April, 2018

Open letter to Facebook: Implement Your Own Community Standards

April 10th 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is issuing an open letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, as he prepares to testify before Congress on April 10. In this letter, CPA together with other members of civil society call on Facebook to combat social issues including gender-based violence and hate […]

Categories: Civic MediaDocumentsNew Media
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 22 March, 2018

Observations on the Bill to Amend the Voluntary Social Service Organisations (Registration and Supervision) Act No. 31 of 1980

The Cabinet of Ministers approved on 20 February 2018 a proposal to introduce amendments to the Voluntary Social Service Act (VSSO) No. 31 of 1980. The proposed amendments contain far-reaching consequences on the activities and finances of civil society and if enacted in its present form will have a chilling effect on a range of private […]

Categories: Documents
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 6 March, 2018

CPA Calls Authorities to Take Swift Action to Prevent Further Violence and to Arrest and Prosecute Individuals Advocating National, Racial and Religious Hatred

March 06th 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) condemns the recent violence unleashed against the Muslim community, which has now claimed the life of Abdul Basith, a youth from Teldeniya and destroyed several Muslim homes and businesses as well as several mosques in the Kandy area. This recent spate of violence […]

Categories: Documents
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 1 February, 2018

Civil Society Statement – 70 Years of Independence

February 4th 2018 marks 70 years of Sri Lanka’s independence. The upcoming anniversary will be celebrated, similar to the years before, by the state and some sections of society with pomp and pageantry. However, despite Sri Lanka being a formal functioning democracy with enviable social welfare indices, our post-independence history has been punctuated by struggles for justice and equality […]

Categories: Documents
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 23 January, 2018

Two Fundamental Rights Petitions Challenging Excise Notification No 4/2018

Violation of Rights Guaranteed under the Constitution of Sri Lanka 23rd January 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Two Fundamental Rights Petitions were filed challenging the validity of Excise Notification No 4/2018 of the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2054-42 issued by the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Finance and Media on 18th January 2018. The effect of […]

Categories: DocumentsPublic Interest Litigation
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 11 January, 2018

CPA Statement in Response to Supreme Court Reference 01/2018

11 January 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) made representations today on behalf of itself and its Executive Director, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, intervening in the reference made by President Maithripala Sirisena to the Supreme Court regarding his term of office as President. On 8 January 2018, media reports indicated that President […]

Categories: All DocumentsDocumentsPress ReleasesPublic Interest Litigation
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 3 January, 2018

Participation of Maldivian journalists, bloggers, or social media activists at the Global Voices Summit held in Colombo, December 2017

Groundviews was the local partner for the Global Voices Summit 2017, that saw journalists, bloggers, media experts, researchers and artists from over 60 countries meet in Colombo to discuss global and regional media issues as well as brainstorm for future collaborations and endeavours. With the support of the Canadian High Commission in Colombo, Groundviews and […]

Categories: Documents