CPA Comms Officer on 5 March, 2024 This document provides an insight into the Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB) in a question-and-answer format. The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has previously commented on this controversial Bill and also challenged the ATB in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. For details on CPA’s written submissions to the Supreme Court, please see here. Click here to […]
CPA Comms Officer on 20 February, 2024 High atop Vedukkunaari Hill in Sri Lanka’s Vavuniya district, an ancient temple stands at the precipice of a religious and legal storm. Revered by the local Tamil community as the Vedukkunaari Aathi Lingeswarar Temple for over 3,000 years, it now finds itself embroiled in a complex dispute with the Department of Archaeology, which claims the […]
CPA Comms Officer on 6 October, 2023 Commentary updated with revisions as of 4 March 2024 The Government of Sri Lanka published the revised ‘Anti-Terrorism Bill’ (hereinafter the proposed ATA) in the Gazette, on the 15th of September 2023. This Bill seeks to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) which for nearly four and a half decades has been one of […]
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 10 February, 2022 CPA’s commentary on the proposed amendments to the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act note the minimalist approach and basic reforms insufficient to address ground realities. Aspects which require urgent reform as highlighted by legal scholars, civil society actors and even the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka have also not been addressed in the Bill. […]
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 31 January, 2022 31st January, 2022, Colombo, Sri Lanka: This commentary examines in brief, proposed amendments for the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) which were approved by Cabinet on 24 January 2022 and subsequently gazetted. The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has prepared this document as an initial comment to the proposed amendments with further advocacy […]
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 17 December, 2021 December 17th, 2021, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The COVID-19 health crisis has posed a range of unprecedented legal, political, economic and social challenges for Sri Lanka since March, 2020. While the government was successful in containing the first wave of COVID-19, the pandemic response has since unravelled, revealing issues with the heavily militarised and politicised approach […]
Centre for Policy Alternatives on 29 November, 2021 November 29th, 2021: The right to protest, as manifested in the freedom of assembly, association, and expression, is an important feature of a democratic society that facilitates civic engagement in political processes beyond just voting at elections. This right is vital for the healthy functioning of a democracy, and while it is recognized that the […]