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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 […]

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 […]

Confronting Accountability for Hate Speech in Sri Lanka: A critique of the legal framework

Post-war Sri Lanka has witnessed numerous incidents of ethno-religious violence. From Aluthgama in 2014 to Gintota in 2017 to Ampara and Digana in 2018, instances of ethno-religious violence have escalated to the point of property damage, grievous injury, and—in the cases of Aluthgama and Digana—death. Violence of this nature is not restricted to the Buddhist […]

Weaponising 280 characters: What 200,000 tweets and 4,000 bots tell us about state of Twitter in Sri Lanka

April 23rd, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is pleased to announce the release of its latest report on social media, Weaponising 280 characters: What 200,000 tweets and 4,000 bots tell us about state of Twitter in Sri Lanka. The report is available for immediate download here. The report is a collaboration between […]

Human Rights Commitments made by the Government of Sri Lanka and Ways Forward

2018 is a significant year for Sri Lanka. The country marks the 70th anniversary of its independence on the 4th of February. Long overdue and much anticipated local government elections will take place under a new electoral system a week later on the 10th of February. These elections will be the first under the government […]

‘They Promised Us Answers’: Justice delayed for the disappeared

This feature follows CPA’s extensive work on the topic of enforced disappearances, in terms of monitoring of commissions or recommendations for strengthening of the legislation of the Office of Missing Persons. It is compiled of interviews and photos from several protests demanding justice across the Northern Province, by way of the return of family members and […]

Two Years In Government: A review of the pledges made in 2015 through the lens of constitutional reform, governance and transitional justice

The political transition of January 2015 promised ambitious reforms and raised expectations accordingly. Two years on, serious concerns have emerged with regard to the National Unity Government’s reform project.  Despite some successes, the current public perception is of a slow pace or even stagnation. This in turn has resulted in disillusionment and disappointment, with questions posed […]