Release of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) Report
4 January 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) welcomes the release of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) Report, its analysis of the root cause of the conflict, the cataloguing of the atrocities of the LTTE, recommendations in respect of governance – especially the de-politicization of existing institutions, the introduction...
Land Issues in the Northern Province: Post-War Politics, Policy and Practices
6 December 2011: Land Issues in the Northern Province: Post-War Politics, Policy and Practices by Senior Researchers Bhavani Fonseka and Mirak Raheem at the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is the most recent endeavour by CPA to critique and provide alternatives to land and related issues in the post-war Northern Province in Sri Lanka. Download...
Freedom of Expression on the Internet in Sri Lanka
22nd November 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives is pleased to release a new report examining the freedom of expression on the Internet in Sri Lanka. Since 2007, the freedom of expression on the Internet has faced considerable restrictions on account of the arbitrary blocking of websites and pronouncements by the government...
Arbitrary Blocking and Registration of Websites: The Continuing Violation of Freedom of Expression on the Internet
Download this press release in Tamil here, and in Sinhala here. English PDF can be downloaded here. ### 9th November 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka: We the undersigned civil society organisations and individuals express grave concern over the press release issued by the Director General of the Department of Government Information on 5th November 2011, which...
CPA Statement on the new Regulations under the Prevention of Terrorism Act
23 September 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) condemns the government’s decision to perpetuate a number of the most widely used Emergency Regulations, such as those relating to detainees, purported ‘surrendees’ and local authorities, in the form of regulations under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). We believe that the reintroduction...
CPA Statement On The Termination Of The State Of Emergency
27th August 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) welcomes the announcement made by the President to Parliament on 25th August 2011 that the government will not be seeking an extension to the state of emergency when it lapses by operation of law in September. Since the end of the war in...
Topline survey report: Democracy in post-war Sri Lanka
18 August 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka – According to a new survey conducted by Social Indicator, the survey research unit of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, Sri Lankans are divided in opinion on the topic of reconciliation – about whether the government has done enough with regard to addressing the root causes of the conflict....
Press Release: Emergency Regulations and Local Government Elections
August 16, 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka: CPA notes the decision of the Elections Commissioner to hold elections in October to twenty-three local authorities, after elections to these authorities were effectively postponed for more than a year through the use of Emergency Regulations. The Commissioner’s decision was made while a number of cases, including one filed...
CPA Statement on Local Government Elections 23 July 2011
23 July 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) notes the conclusion of the second phase of the 2011 local government elections held today. The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) of which CPA is a constituent member, did not deploy monitors in the field in the present phase of the local...
Fundamental Rights application filed in Supreme Court seeking an election for Colombo Municipal Council
11 May 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, filed a fundamental rights application (SCFR 161/2011) in the Supreme Court on 4th May 2011 alleging that the Election Commissioner’s failure to hold elections to the Colombo Municipal Council constitutes a continuing violation of his right...
Is the government intending to introduce more constitutional amendments?
9 May 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) notes the reports in the Daily Mirror and Lankadeepa newspapers of 5th May 2011, which disclose that the government is intending to bring further constitutional changes before Parliament soon. Citing government sources, the reports say that the proposed Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution...
Citizens Peace Award for 2010
The Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu was awarded the Citizens Peace Award for 2010 by the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka. Dr. Saravanamuttu was selected from 52 nominations received following the announcement of the award in November 2010. ### 15 February 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Executive...