Centre for Policy Alternatives on 23 August, 2007

Security, Independence and Liberty after September 11th: Getting the Balance Right

Background paper presented by Sanjana Hattotuwa at 'Security, Independence and Liberty after September 11th: Getting the Balance Right', a conference organised by the 21st Century Trust on 12th to 18th May 2002 at Klingenthal Castle, near Strasbourg, France.

The conference examined the dynamics of the socio-political spectrum, with an examination of the profound implications of 9-11 not only for counter-terrorist strategies of the future, but also for constitutional and legal norms, for policing, and for the interaction between government and society in general.

Security, Independence and Liberty after September 11th: Getting the Balance Right

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 23 August, 2007

Strengthening the Peace Process: Opportunities and Challenges

The report of the proceedings of a seminar titled “Strengthening the Peace Process: Opportunities and Challenges” organised by the Departments of Surgery and History of the University of Jaffna and the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), held from 18th to 20th May 2002. The seminar was chaired by Prof. S. K. Sitrampalam of the Department of History, University of Jaffna. The panel comprised Dr. Dayalan Ambalavaner of the Department of Surgery, University of Jaffna, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Mr. Rohan Edrisinha and Mr. Sunanda Deshapriya of the CPA, and Professor Nicholas Haysom, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Advisor to former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa, who was present at the invitation of the organisers.
Strengthening the Peace Process: Opportunities and Challenges

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 23 August, 2007

Tools for News Management in Conflict Situations

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and International Media Support (IMS), an international media development organisation based in Copenhagen, organised a two-day seminar on 'Tools for News Management in Conflict Situations', from 13th to 15th June 2002 at Golden Sun Resort, Kudawaskaduwa, Kalutara. A report of the programme of activities can be downloaded here.

Tools for News Management in Conflict Situations

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 23 August, 2007

Report of the Forum of Federations mission to Sri Lanka – 2002

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and the Forum of Federations organised a series of seminars and dialogue with policymakers, politicians, the academia and intellectuals on 'Constitutional Reform and Conflict Resolution: Federal Options', from 1st to 6th September 2002. The delegation included key figures such as Mr. Robert Rae, former Prime Minister of Ontario, who is intimately associated with the Canadian experience with federalism and constitutional reform, Prof. Will Kymlicka, the world renowned scholar on minority rights, ethnicity and multiculturalism, Mr. David R. Cameron, Dr. J. Peter Meekison, and Prof. Charles Jeffery.

The full report of the activities is available here

Report of the Forum of Federations mission to Sri Lanka – 2002

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 23 August, 2007

Public Interest Litigation – Case List – 1998 to 2000

1. NGO Bill, Petition filed – 16 March 1998, Court Decision – 1 April 1998

2. Gnanamuttu vs Attorney-General, Case argued – 15 March 1999, Court Decision – 5 May 1999

3. Imminent infringement of the right to vote, Petition filed – 11 March 1999, Court Decision – 23 March 1999

4. Universities Bill Case, Petition filed – 27 April 1999, Court Decision – 11 May 1999

5. Chief Ministers Case, Petition filed- 31 May 1999, Court Decision – pending

6. Fundamental Rights Case, Filed by Co-ordinators of the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), Petition Filed – 3 June 1999,
Court Decision – pending

7. Censorship of the private electronic media

8. Equal Opportunities Bill, Petition Filed – 14 October 1999

9. Right to vote, Petition Filed – 4 May 1999, Court Decision – Leave to proceed not granted

10. Misuse of State Resources by the Government for Election purposes, Petition Filed – 9 December 1999, Court Decision – 17 December 1999

11. Petitions on the rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Petition filed – 2 May 2000, Court Decision – no leave to proceed

12. Challenge to the Emergency Regulations 1 of 2000, Petition Filed – 2 June 2000

13. Application to the Human Rights Commission on the Internally displaced Muslims of the Northern Province, Petition filed – 3rd July, 2002

14. Challenge to An Act to Repeal and Replace the Constitution of Sri Lanka, filed 2 August 2000, no leave to proceed, Petition filed – 2 August 2000, Court decision – no leave to proceed

15. Challenge to the proposed 17th Amendment to the Constitution, Petition filed – 4 August 2000

16. Petition to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka requesting the Commission to direct the Commissioner of Elections and the Inspector General of Police to make public all directions, circulars, instructions issued by them to ensure free and fair elections, Petition filed – 15 September 2000

17. Fundamental Rights petition against the Commissioner of Elections by reason of his actions during elections, Petition filed – 22 November 2000, Court decision – 2nd July 2001

18. Petition challenging the Referendum on the 21st August 2001, Petition filed – 27 July 2001

19. Fundamental rights petition challenging the pass system in operation in Vavuniya, Petitions filed – 8 November 2001 & 16 January 2002

20. Fundamental rights petition filed against the Commissioner of Elections, for not ordering a re poll in the Batticaloa District at the General Election of 2001, Petition filed – 2 January 2001

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 23 August, 2007

Fact finding missions to Puttalam, Mundel and Madurankuliya and Valaichchenai and Batticaloa

On 26th November 2002, a team from INFORM (Sunila Abeysekera and Udaya Kalupathirana) and the Centre for Policy Alternatives (Udaya Edirimanna and Asanga Welikala) visited Puttalam, Mundel and Madurankuliya on a fact finding mission with regard to the civil disturbances in the area.

The report contains the team's findings with regard to the basic facts of the incidents as well as its conclusions.

On 2nd and 3rd July 2002, a team from INFORM (Sunila Abeysekera and Udaya Kalupathirana) and the Centre for Policy Alternatives (Sunanda Deshapriya and Asanga Welikala) visited Valaichchenai and Batticaloa in the wake of reports of clashes between members of the Muslim and Tamil communities in the Ottamavadi-Valaichchenai area.

The report contains the team's findings with regard to the basic facts of the incidents as well as its conclusions, both specific to the Valaichchenai clashes, and general implications for the ceasefire agreement.
Fact finding missions to Puttalam, Mundel and Madurankuliya and Valaichchenai and Batticaloa