Author: Centre for Policy Alternatives

CPA Statement on the Current Constitutional Crisis

October 29th 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempt by President Maithripala Sirisena to purportedly remove Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe from office and appoint Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister instead. We firmly believe that these acts are unconstitutional and illegal, and wholly lacking […]

Paradise Lost? Preliminary Notes on a Constitutional Coup

Asanga Welikala There were three dramatic announcements on the evening of Friday 26th October 2018 from the Presidential Secretariat, which occurred in the following order: (a) the announcement of the withdrawal of the UPFA from the government; (b) the swearing-in of Mahinda Rajapaksa before President Maithripala Sirisena as the Prime Minister; and (c) the announcement that […]

CPA Condemns Censorship of ‘Unframed’ at the University of Peradeniya

18 October 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka: ‘Unframed’ is a compelling collection of photography, curated by Vikalpa, the Sinhala civic media platform anchored to the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA). The exhibition highlights and places in context critically acclaimed photography featured on the site or taken by editorial staff over ten years. This week, the exhibition was […]

Comparing the Proposed Counter Terrorism Bill to the Prevention of Terrorism Act

This document is a comparison of the proposed Counter Terrorism Act (CTA) with the current legal regime operating under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and regulations made thereunder prepared by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA). The present document is limited to a comparison with the PTA to ensure there is a timely comment […]

CPA Intervenes on the Challenge to the Proposed Counter Terrorism Bill

17th October 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and its Executive Director, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, filed papers today intervening in the petition filed by Wimal Weerawansa MP challenging ‘The Counter Terrorism Bill’ (The Bill), tabled in Parliament on 9th  of October 2018. The proposed Bill seeks to repeal and replace the archaic PTA which […]

Continuing Concerns on the Office for Reparations Bill

October 4th 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The second reading of the ‘Office for Reparations Bill’ (the Bill) is listed to be taken up in Parliament on Wednesday, 10th October 2018. The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) raises serious concerns with the present form of the Bill and notes, yet again, that the Bill will adversely […]

Study on Information Requests Submitted to Public Authorities and Responses Received under the Right to Information Act

Sri Lanka’s Right to Information (RTI) Act provides the mechanism for citizens to oversee the decision-making and actions of public authorities. The RTI Act first expresses that it is the operational mechanism of the substantive right of access to information as recognised in Article 14A of the Constitution. Section 3 of the RTI Act outlines […]