CPA Comms Officer on 1 August, 2022

Request for action on the attacks against peaceful protestors on 21st of July 2022 and other incidents of violence

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has monitored recent incidents of violence including incidents that targeted peaceful protestors, media personnel and lawyers including the events of 21st/22nd July 2022 with grave concern. We issued a statement containing our initial concerns on 22nd July 2022. This letter raises several issues in relation to the inaction by the authorities and the need for action.

Read the full letter in English here. 

CPA Comms Officer on 27 July, 2022

Emergency Regulations promulgated in May and July 2022

On the 17th of July 2022, Acting President (as he then was) Ranil Wickremesinghe declared a State of Emergency with effect from the 18th of July 2022, by way of Gazette Extraordinary No.2288/30. Thereafter, on the 18th of July 2022, he brought into effect the Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) Regulations, No. 1 of 2022 by way of Gazette Extraordinary No.2289/07. These regulations were virtually identical to the regulations by the same name that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa brought into effect in May 2022, though
two minor differences made the incumbent President’s regulations more draconian in effect; Sections 408-426 of the Penal Code are added to the list of offences under regulation 12, and the period of detention of a suspect before production before a Magistrate under Regulation
17(2) has been extended to 72 hours, from 24 hours.

Read the full document in English here:

Read the full document in Sinhala here:

Read the full document in Tamil here:

 

CPA Comms Officer on 22 July, 2022

CPA STATEMENT IN RE TO ATTACK ON GGG 22ND JULY 2022

22nd July 2022, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) vehemently condemns the violent attack by the authorities on the protestors, lawyers and media personnel at the Galle Face green soon after midnight on the 21st July 2022. CPA notes that the attacks are all the more heinous as they came just hours after protestors had publicly expressed their desire to leave the premises of the Presidential Secretariat and to allow the new President time to prove himself. These senseless attacks by security forces have undermined peace & security and have further escalated tensions in Sri Lanka.

 

Read the full statement in English here:

CPA Comms Officer on 18 July, 2022

CPA Statement on the declaration of a State of Emergency on the 18th July 2022

18th July 2022, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre of Policy Alternatives (CPA) expresses its grave concern about yet another declaration of a State of Emergency by way of Gazette Extraordinary No. 2288/30, dated 17th July 2022. This is the first such declaration by Acting President Ranil Wickremasinghe since assuming office on the 15th of July 2022, and the third such declaration in the country in the past four months. Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa previously declared a state of emergency twice this year, and thrice in the course of his presidency.

Read the full statement in English here:

Read the full statement in Sinhala here:

Read the full statement in Tamil here:

CPA Comms Officer on 4 July, 2022

AG’s decisions to drop charges

In the period from 2019-2022, the Attorney General’s Department decided to drop charges in several high profile cases. No reasons were publicly given as to why charges were dropped. It is also in a context when the department seemingly had sufficient evidence to file indictments in the respective cases. These decisions to not proceed coupled with other factors that pose multiple challenges in obtaining justice highlights the grave threat to the Rule of Law and entrenched impunity in Sri Lanka.
The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has previously highlighted the need for both structural and operational reforms to ensure the effectiveness and independence of the Attorney General’s Department.
Read the document in English here.
CPA Comms Officer on 30 June, 2022

CPA Statement on the Government’s Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill

30th June 2022: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) notes the publication of the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill (the Bill) [Part II of the Gazette of 24th June 2022, supplement issued on 29.06.2022]. The Bill, gazetted as the Twenty-Second Amendment if enacted will become the Twenty-First Amendment to the Constitution. The Bill is the government’s institutional reform response to the unprecedented mass protests and the loss of confidence both by the citizens of Sri Lanka and international partners in our system of governance.

Read the full statement in English here.

Read the full statement in Sinhala here.

Read the full statement in Tamil here.