Press Release

We, the undersigned, as citizens and members of Civil Society write to express our grave concern on the President’s decisions to declare a State of Emergency under Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance in Sri Lanka. Click to read in English හදිසි නීතිය ප්‍රකාශයට පත් කිරීම සම්බන්ධෙයන් සිවිලේ සමාජෙය් ස්ථාවරය පහත අත්සන් තබන ලද අපි, පුරවැසියන් හා සිවිලේ සමාජ සමාජිකයන් ෙලස, ශ්‍රී ලංකාෙව් මහජන ආරක්ෂණ ආඥාපනෙත් 2 වන වගන්තිය යටෙත් හදිසි තත්වයක් ප්‍රකාශයට පත් කිරීමට ජනාධිපතිවරයා විසින් ගත් තීරණය පිළිබඳව දැඩි අවධානය යොමු කර සිටින්නෙමු. සිංහල භාෂාවෙන් කියවන්න அவசரகால நிலலப் பிரகடனம் ததாடர்பில் சிவில் சமூகத்தின் நிலலப்பாடு சிவில் சமூகப் பிரலசகள் மற்றும் உறுப்பினர்கள் என்ற ரீதியில் கீழே ஒப்பமிட்டுள்ள நாங்கள் தபாதுமக்கள் பாதுகாப்புக் கட்டலளச் சட்டத்தின் 2 ஆம் பிாிவின் கீழ் இலங்லகயில் அவசரகால நிலலயிலனப் பிரகடனப்படுத்துவதற்கான ஜனாதிபதியின் தீர்மானம் ததாடர்பில் எமது தீவிர காிசலையிலன தவளிப்படுத்துவதற்காக இதலன எழுதுகின்ழறாம். தமிழில் படியுங்கள்

CSO’s demand for timely, transparent, scientific, evidence-based, accessible vaccination plan We, the undersigned, as citizens of Sri Lanka and members of civil society collective, express grave concern in the implementation of the vaccination drive in Sri Lanka. We call for greater transparency and a scientific approach in the vaccination program. Click here to read in English   කාලෝචිත, විනිවිධ පෙනෙන, විද්‍යාත්මක, සාක්ෂි පදනම් කරගත් ප්‍රවේශ විය හැකි එන්නත් සැලැස්මක් සඳහා සිවිල් සමාජයන්හී ඉල්ලීම් ශ‍්‍රී ලංකාවේ පුරවැසියන් සහ සිවිල් සමාජ සාමූහිකයේ සාමාජිකයන් ලෙස පහත අත්සන් තබා ඇති අපි, ශ‍්‍රී ලංකාවේ එන්නත්කරණ යාන්ත‍්‍රණය ක‍්‍රියාවට නැංවීමේ පිළිවෙල පිළිබඳව දැඩි අවදානයෙන් පසුවන්නෙමු. අපි මෙම එන්නත්කරණ ක‍්‍රියාවලිය පිළිබඳව දැඩි විනිවිදභාවයක් සහ විද්‍යාත්මක ප‍්‍රවේශයක් ඉල්ලා සිටිමු. සිංහල භාෂාවෙන් කියවන්න உரிய நேரத்திலான, வெளிப்படைத்தன்மை, மிக்க, அறிவியலபூர்வமான, சானறுகளின் அடிப்படையில், பெற்றுக்கொள்ளக் கூடிய நிர்ப்பீடனத் திட்டத்திற்கான சிவில் சமூகக் கூட்டமைப்பி ன் கோரிக்கை  கீழே ஒப்பமிட்டுள்ள நாங்கள் இலங்கைப் பிரசைகள் என்ற ரீதியிலும் சிவில் சமூகக் கூட்டமைப்பின் உறுப்பினர்கள் என்ற ரீதியிலும் இலங்கையில் தடுப்பூசியேற்றல் நடவடிக்கைகள் தொடர்பாக எமது தீர்க்கமான கரிசணைகளை வெளிப்படுத்துகின்றௌம். தடுப்பூசியேற்றல் நிகழ்ச்சித்திட்டத்தில் பாரிய வெளிப்படைத்தன்மைக்காகவூம் அறிவியல் அணுகுமுறைக்காகவூம் நாம் வேண்டுகோள் விடுக்கின்றௌம். தமிழில் படியுங்கள்

As Sri Lanka prepares for Parliamentary elections to be held in the month of April, we urge all political parties to fulfil the commitments they have made nationally and internationally to strengthen women’s political participation in the country. Women’s issues feature heavily in the campaign promises of all parties during any election, while the number of women in their nomination lists remain inadequate. We thus call on parties to place women with a commitment to gender equality in winnable positions on party lists and in constituencies. The support from the respective parties must however extend beyond the nomination. It is essential to ensure continued support for women candidates through adequate financing and fostering a safe environment in which they can campaign. Despite high social indicators, women continue to face many challenges in Sri Lanka. These challenges are compounded by other struggles they may face due to their ethnicity, religion, socio-economic background, or sexual orientation and gender identity. Experienced and committed women representatives could be a significant step in addressing these issues, through policy development and sustainable change. We recognise that restrictive gender norms and patriarchal values contribute to the underrepresentation of women in civic and political spaces. We call upon all policy makers to challenge these norms and biases, so that women, men, and all who do not conform to stereotypical gendered roles can contest on a level playing field. On this International Women’s Day, LST urges all parties to use the forthcoming election to increase women’s political participation and support women’s leadership, ensuring that women’s voices are in focus as a step towards this larger goal. Sri Lanka cannot achieve its potential unless it is founded on a policy of inclusive participation.

The Law and Society Trust is appalled that the Presidential pardon has been used to release Jude Shramantha Jayamaha – a man convicted of brutally murdering a young woman, Yvonne Jonsson, at the Royal Park apartment complex in 2005. This is the second presidential pardon given in quick succession that has done much to undermine the rule of law and the judiciary in Sri Lanka. We are informed that ‘many religious leaders, former Supreme Court Judges, lawyers, civil society leaders and youth leaders (yet to be named)’ have made representations to President Sirisena, recommending sympathetic consideration of the appeal for granting a Presidential pardon, but as many have condemned and criticized this move. The arguments expressed by these champions of Mr Jayamaha have not expressed a single word in consideration of the victim and her family. While we reject the death penalty and have publicly declared this stance, we do believe that punishments must be meted out for heinous crimes. Mr. Jayamaha committed a heinous crime and acquiring a PhD. in prison does not absolve him of his actions. We are moved to ask if this pardon was discussed and endorsed in cabinet and whether the wider impact of this action was considered. Besides the gross injustice done and disrespect shown to the victim and her family, and to the judiciary, it sends a message to the world that due process and justice has little value in Sri Lanka. If Sri Lankans are not assured of the rule of law and justice, who will have confidence in Sri Lanka – be it as investors or as tourists? It creates a belief that one does not have to fully pay for the consequences of wrongdoing. We live in trepidation that with the days left for the presidential elections more damage of this nature may be done. We urge all the presidential candidates to assure the country that they will not damage our judicial institutions further, in this manner and will act with responsibility. We urge the Bar Association and civil society committed to promoting and upholding human rights to condemn this action and consider what remedial actions may be taken. This is also the time to reflect on the commitment made in 2015 to abolish the Executive Presidency. That it is an institution that is vulnerable to abuse is further reiterated through such actions. We further urge that constitutional reforms are undertaken to ensure that the power to pardon is exercised in consultations with the Cabinet and the Attorney General so that ill-conceived decisions are not made in the future.

The Law and Society Trust (LST) is deeply concerned with the decision that impeded the launch event of a report published by the Human Elevation Organisation (HEO) in Addalachchenai, Ampara on October 12th, 2019. HEO, a partner organisation of the People’s Alliance for Right to Land (PARL), compiled a report on land issues in the Ampara district titled ‘Land, Grabbing – Denial of Our Existence’. The Election Commission blocked the launch event that was scheduled to take place at the Al Sakki Hall in Addalachchenai, stating it to be in breach of election laws. A few days prior to the event, the organizers communicated with the area politicians and informed them that in accordance with instructions sent by the Election Commission, they should not attend the event. The event was designed as a discussion forum for civil society and the aggrieved community. On the day of the launch, the organizers, community members, regional and national activists, and the media, gathered outside the blocked venue, and questioned government officials who arrived on the scene, as to who would be accountable to them for their lost lands. The citizens of Ampara face a myriad of land-related issues, and LST believes the Presidential Election should not impede them from speaking out about their issues. Whilst we respect the Election law, and recognize the importance of its proper implementation, it should not be a barrier for citizens to raise their grievances and hold those in power accountable, particularly at an important political moment such as a Presidential Election.

Panel discussion and launch of the publication “Islamic Extremism: Clash of Civilizations or Clash within Civilization” by Vidura Prabath Munasinghe and Kaushalya Ariyarathne. Discussion Panel Malathei de Alwis Sivagnanam Jeyasanker Sharmila Seyyid Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri Date – May 28, 2019 Time – 3 pm Venue – ICES Auditorium, Kynsey Terrace, Colombo 08  

The Law and Society Trust was among 16 organisation that developed a code of conduct for Responsible Social Media use in Sri Lanka, that has now been published as the Social Media Declaration Colombo 2019. The Declaration recognises the inviolable importance of the freedom of expression on or over social media, yet at the same time, encourage and strengthen the ethical, progressive, democratic and pro-social use of social media. LST is also a signatory of the Declaration. ‘Social media’ is under increasing scrutiny within the present Sri Lankan context. The resulting discourse on Freedom of Speech and Human Rights shows a lack of understanding of the complex nature of social media, or of the nuanced ideals of democracy or Freedom of Expression, especially by those in decision-making positions. The signatories of the Declaration believe that through the measures outlined, it would be possible to “create a progressive environment on the Sri Lankan social media sphere, to ensure beneficial experiences, devoid of harassment for all users.” Read the Declaration online here: www.socialmedialanka.org

The Law and Society Trust is deeply concerned with the current developments in Sri Lanka and we urge the President to resolve this impasse by speedily re-convening Parliament and enabling Parliament to determine which member of Parliament has the support to lead the government.The Law and Society Trust is deeply concerned with the current developments in Sri Lanka and we urge the President to resolve this impasse by speedily re-convening Parliament and enabling Parliament to determine which member of Parliament has the support to lead the government. The constitutional process for appointing the Prime Minister and outlining the parameters of the President’s powers were established through the 19th Amendment and it should be followed. There is also a history of democratic agitation that led to enacting of the 19th Amendment. Disregarding it so summarily is a threat to the democratic process. Ordinary citizens are cynical of the delays in re-convening Parliament. They express sentiments publicly that it gives the members the opportunity to barter their votes to the highest bidder. This is not healthy for Sri Lanka’s democracy. The Law and Society Trust was established in 1982 and is witness to the highs and lows of Sri Lanka’s political developments. We advocate respecting peoples right to political participation and their right to select their representatives through a free and fair process.