CPA Comms Officer on 8 November, 2022

Summary Findings and Overview of the Survey on Aragalaya

This report presents the summary findings and overview of the ‘Survey on Aragalaya’ (Protest) conducted by Social Indicator (SI): the survey and research arm of the Centre for Policy Alternatives. Against the backdrop of the economic and political crisis Sri Lanka is facing, this island-wide poll was designed with the aim of capturing the public attitude towards Aragalaya, and their economic ideology. Field work for the study was conducted from 22nd September to 12th of October.

Please download the English version of the report here. The Sinhala and Tamil versions of the report will be published in due course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CPA Comms Officer on 3 October, 2022

LANGUAGE RIGHTS AND THE CITIZENS’ APPROACH

The Centre for Policy Alternatives has been of the strong belief that if Sri Lanka is to move from a post-war to postconflict situation – that is one in which the sources of conflict are not sustained or reproduced and reconciliation achieved– addressing the language issue is of paramount importance. Language is at the heart of the ethnic conflict and therefore addressing the language issue will have great symbolic and more importantly practical significance for the peoples of Sri Lanka. It is fundamental and the resources involved far outweigh the benefits that would accrue short, medium and long –term in restoring trust and confidence in full citizenship for all and genuine respect, trust and confidence amongst them. CPA’s Language Programme seeks to make a difference in this respect. It involves citizens in the fulfillment of their constitutional rights and thereby speaks to their duties as well, as citizens and their responsibility for securing those rights. CPA records its appreciation of the cooperation provided to it in the implementation of this programme from the state sector and urges that the issue receives the policy prioritization and requisite resources it deserves. The ultimate objective after all is to embed language rights in the institutions and processes of governance and government, as well as in the popular culture to the point at which it no longer requires special mention and attention as a source of conflict, diminished citizenship and/or feelings of marginalization. We believe we have made some inroads as a programme; we believe that there is still a longer journey that must be made as a country determined to achieve its full potential.

This report, “Language Rights and the Citizens Approach” is a programme review of the Project Promoting Language Rights of Minorities (PLRM) which was carried out in five phases from 2011- 2016 .

Ongoing CPA advocacy includes FR case filed 21st March 2016 (SPFR 102/2016) seeking an order directing health authorities to ensure all labels and packaging containing information pertaining to medicines, medical devices and products are in Sinhala and Tamil, as the official languages of Sri Lanka.  CPA has secured important victories in this area,  including ensuring trilingual printings of legislation; bilingual NICs, trilingual transport notices and announcements; trilingual documentation by finance companies; and official undertakings to provide trilingual labeling of consumer and medical products. In 2019 following rounds of discussions and deliberations the NMRA directed all marketing authorisation holders of medicine to implement official language policy in labeling of medicines. With effect from 1st January 2020, therefore, it is directed that generic names should be included in Sinhala and Tamil by use of a sticker. Furthermore for  5 selected very commonly used medications a patient information leaflet has to be included, as a start, with instructions in both languages according to a prescribed format.

Other resource outputs from CPAs Language Rights advocacy include

Tamil Language Rights in Sri Lanka

Language and Humanity

Vibhasha 1 

Vibhasha 2

Vibhasha 3 

Vibhasha 5 

Vibhasha 6

Vibhasha 7

Vibhasha 8

Vibhasha 12

Vibhasha 13

Vibhasha 14

PLRM2 Project Report

Some press articles relevant to the programme are available here

 

CPA Comms Officer on 30 September, 2022

TOPLINE REPORT OF THE CONFIDENCE IN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE INDEX- WAVE 3

This survey report is the third wave of the Confidence in Democratic Governance Index, a scientific opinion poll that captures the public experience and opinion of the Aragalaya as well as various other aspects of the current economic and political crisis. As such, this study not only enhances ongoing political debate but also provides data-driven research to policymakers, academics, and various local and international stakeholders. This in turn supports a better understanding of the different dynamics prevalent among various social groups in society, which could help advocate for more sustainable policy interventions. The research study was conducted by Social Indicator (SI) the survey research arm of the Centre for Policy Alternatives.

 

Please download the Topline report in English here.

Please download the Executive Summary in Tamil here.

Please download the Executive Summary in Sinhala here.

CPA Comms Officer on 29 September, 2022

Centre for Policy Alternatives (Guarantee) Ltd., and Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu vs. The Attorney General (In Re the Bill titled Bureau of Rehabilitation Act)

29th September 2022. The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and its Executive Director filed an application in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Bill titled “Bureau of Rehabilitation Act”, published in the Gazette on 9th September 2022 and placed on the order paper of the parliament on 23rd September 2022.

The long title of the said Bill describes it as “an act to provide for the establishment of a bureau to be called and known as the bureau of rehabilitation; to regulate its powers, duties and functions and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”. While the Petitioners recognized the need to integrate a process of rehabilitation into the criminal justice system, they noted that the impugned regulations violate several of the Constitutionally guaranteed Fundamental Rights, of the Petitioners as well as of the general public. The Petitioners contended that the process of rehabilitation should be done lawfully, with due respect and concern for due process standards, while respecting constitutionally guaranteed rights and liberties.

The Petitioners maintained that certain provisions in the Bill are inconsistent with Articles 10, 11, 12 (1), 13 (1), 13(2), 13(3), 14 A, 14 (1) in the Fundamental Rights Chapter of the Constitution. In view of the inconsistencies with the provisions of the Fundamental Rights chapter noted above, the Petitioners stated that the Bill has a prejudicial impact on the sovereignty of the People, and cannot be enacted into law except with the approval of the People at a Referendum, in addition to a 2/3 majority of the whole number of Members of Parliament voting in its favour.

CPA Comms Officer on 27 September, 2022

Tea Kahata

Thè Kahata – Giving Voice to the Untold Stories of Sri Lanka’s Plantation Sector
Sri Lanka takes pride in her tea industry, and for many years the name Ceylon was synonymous with tea. However, behind the celebratory rhetoric and good wishes was and still continues to be the stark reality of the living conditions of the people who have plucked the “gold” of Sri Lanka for over a century.
It is sad but true that in certain cases living conditions have not changed for over a hundred years and that wages lag far behind what is adequate and just. For Sri Lanka to move ahead as a country made up of many peoples and in which there is Unity in Diversity, serious attention should and must be paid to the living conditions of the workers on estates.
At the Centre for Policy Alternatives, we are proud and yet sad that we had to launch an initiative to get postal addresses for some 3,000 workers. Apart from the practical issue of being able to receive mail for example on time and not suffer the consequences of delay, the dignity of having an address is surely a right of every Sri Lankan citizen. We are proud too, to have involved the young people of the community in this exhibition. Who better to understand and record for posterity the daily reality of life on the tea estates? The talent of the youth who participated must be commended and we hope that it will be nurtured and nourished in the future. Moreover, we sincerely hope that the exhibition will spark off a much needed conversation and spur political commitment to improve the lives of the community and that our opinion and decision makers will place human dignity above else as the motivating force of their efforts. Avishai Margalit wrote about a decent society and a civilized society – one in which institutions do not humiliate citizens and one in which citizens do not humiliate each other. We should bear this in mind in respect of developing the conditions on the estates and indeed in whatever endeavor we embark upon to make our land united and prosperous.
Thè Kahata Photojournal and virtual exhibition of photography by members of the Up Country Tamil community bears witness to the everyday hardships and privation of their lives.
Project Background 

This project aims to strengthen the voice of plantation communities presenting an alternative narrative of the plantation sector through the media of creative photovoice. These creations are to be presented to relevant stakeholders supporting engagement in advocacy for social justice and equality. The initiative utilizes photography as a tool of assessment that focuses on highlighting the narratives of the plantation sector through visual images captured by selected skilled youth belonging to plantation families who have the least access to develop knowledge and technical skills on photography. In addition, the endeavor will provide an eye-opening opportunity for youth to sharpen their hidden talents and discover their passion for creative expressions and introduces an innovative medium for communicating their issues. Field visits and linkages they develop during photo shooting sessions will further deepen their understanding of historical roots they belong to and thereby inculcate a sense of responsibility, empathy and to recognize themselves as dignified citizens of the country through careful civic engagement with one’s own community. By extension, they will also gain opportunities to learn how to incorporate ethical practices/ code of conduct need to be followed in the process of creating successful photo voices.

The Teh Kahata Exhibition series is part of CPAs ongoing work to highlight the injustices meted to plantation sector communities during 150 years of Ceylon tea.

Media Cover

View the full project in English here:

CPA Comms Officer on 25 September, 2022

CPA statement on High Security Zone Order No. 1 of 2022

25th September 2022, (Colombo) The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is gravely concerned by the Gazette published by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on the 23rd of September 2022, containing High Security Zone Order No. 1 of 2022. These orders/regulations designate several areas within the Colombo district as “high security zones” and impose a regime of strict regulation of activities within such areas and provide for penalties and harsher bail conditions.

Read the full statement in English here:

Read the full statement in Tamil here:

Read the full statement in Sinhala here:

 

CPA Comms Officer on 25 September, 2022

Q&A HIGH SECURITY ZONE ORDER NO 1 OF 2022

What is the Official Secrets Act?

The Official Secrets Act No. 32 of 1955 is an archaic law in our statute books, said to be based on a much criticized and now abolished 1911 Official Secrets Act in the United Kingdom. The purpose of the Act is to ‘restrict access to official secrets and secret documents and to prevent unauthorized disclosure thereof’. The provisions of the act are outdated and draconian and create leeway for the abuse of power, suppression of dissent and violation of fundamental rights.

There have been instances of previous governments threatening to use the Act to suppress information and intimidate journalists. While High Security Zones (HSZs) have previously been established in Sri Lanka under the Public Security Ordinance and the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the use of the Official Secrets Act to establish HSZs sets a worrying precedent and is outside the scope of the Act.

Download the full document in English here.

Download the document in Sinhala here:

Download the document in Tamil here: