Category: Sri Lanka

SRI LANKA: Human Rights Council must act on killings and forced disappearances in Sri Lanka

6th Session - 2007 September, ALRC AT THE UN, Countries, documents, Human Rights Council, Sri Lanka, Written Submissions September 3, 2007August 19, 2015 admin 0 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 3, 2007 AL-019-2007 A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) to the 6th session of the UN Human Rights Council SRI LANKA: Human Rights Council must act on killings and forced disappearances in Sri Lanka The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) is gravely concerned by the insufficient action on the part of the Human Rights Council to address the growing problem of extra-judicial killings and forced disappearances in Sri Lanka. The ALRC has alerted the international community, including the Human Rights Council, concerning this growing and extremely grave situation on numerous occasions. For example, the issue of disappearances was communicated as a […]

SRI LANKA: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers

5th Session - 2007 June, ALRC AT THE UN, Commission on Human Rights, Countries, documents, Oral Submissions, Sri Lanka June 12, 2007August 19, 2015 admin 0 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2007 AL-015-2007 A Statement by the Asian Legal Resource Centre SRI LANKA: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers The following is a statement delivered on behalf of the Asian Legal Resource Centre supported by the Law society and Trust, Sri Lanka at 5th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. June 11th 2007  5th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. Oral Intervention of the Asian Legal Resource Centre, Hong Kong supported by the Law and Society Trust, Sri Lanka Speaker: Ms. Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena Thank you Mr. President, The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) welcomes the report presented […]

SRI LANKA: Serious Concerns Affecting Sri Lanka’s Judiciary

5th Session - 2007 June, ALRC AT THE UN, Commission on Human Rights, Countries, documents, Sri Lanka, Written Submissions May 31, 2007August 19, 2015 admin 0 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 31, 2007 AL-012-2007 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Fifth session A Written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre, supported by the Law and Society Trust, Sri Lanka SRI LANKA:  Serious Concerns Affecting Sri Lanka’s Judiciary 1. Introduction Sri Lanka’s legal system was originally a combination of the Roman-Dutch Law and English Law. The present system of judicial administration and organization is based on the current Constitution, introduced in 1978. The judiciary comprises the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Provincial High Courts, District Courts, Magistrates’ Courts and Primary Courts. The Supreme Court is the country’s highest court, headed by the Chief Justice and comprising between six and […]

Rape and police inaction in Sri Lanka

ALRC AT THE UN, CHR 58th Session - 2002, Commission on Human Rights, Countries, documents, Sri Lanka, Written Submissions March 4, 2002August 25, 2015 admin 0 Comments

Item 12(a) : INTEGRATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND THE GENDER PERSPECTIVE: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 18. Rape and Police Inaction in Sri Lanka Link to UNCHR COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Fifty-eighth Session Item 12(a) of the Provisional Agenda INTEGRATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND THE GENDER PERSPECTIVE: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. Written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), A non-governmental organization with general consultative status Rape and police inaction in Sri Lanka 1. Sex, the most beautiful and sacred element of life and creative source of energy, is frequently debased into a tool-a weapon-to defeat, humiliate and destroy Asia’s women and children. This form […]

Impunity in Sri Lanka

ALRC AT THE UN, CHR 58th Session - 2002, Commission on Human Rights, Countries, documents, Sri Lanka, Written Submissions March 4, 2002August 25, 2015 admin 0 Comments

Item 11(d) : INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY, ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, IMPUNITY 14. Impunity in Sri Lanka Link to UNCHR COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Fifty-eighth Session Item 11(d) of the Provisional Agenda INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY, ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, IMPUNITY Written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), A non-governmental organization with general consultative status Impunity in Sri Lanka 1. In Sri Lanka there is near complete impunity for state officers alleged to have caused serious crimes such as murder, torture, disappearances, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The very judicial framework of the country in fact promotes and accommodates impunity. The present 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka has […]

Disappearances in Sri Lanka

ALRC AT THE UN, CHR 58th Session - 2002, Commission on Human Rights, Countries, documents, Sri Lanka, Written Submissions March 4, 2002August 25, 2015 admin 0 Comments

Item 11(b) : CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING QUESTIONS OF: DISAPPEARANCES AND SUMMARY EXECUTIONS 12. Disappearances in Sri Lanka Link to UNCHR COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Fifty-eighth Session Item 11(b) of the Provisional Agenda CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING QUESTIONS OF: DISAPPEARANCES AND SUMMARY EXECUTIONS Written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ARLC), a non-governmental organization with general consultative status Disappearances in Sri Lanka 1. The December 1999 recommendations of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to the Government of Sri Lanka (E/CN.4/2000/64/Add.1) have-all but for one-not been implemented. Although an Inter-ministerial Committee of Secretaries was appointed to look into implementation, it did not do anything […]

Torture Cases in Sri Lanka

ALRC AT THE UN, CHR 57th Session - 2001, Commission on Human Rights, Countries, documents, Sri Lanka, Written Submissions March 4, 2002August 25, 2015 admin 0 Comments

Item 11(a) : CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING QUESTIONS OF: TORTURE AND DETENTION 9. Torture Cases in Sri Lanka Link to UNCHR COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Fifty-eighth Session Item 11(a) of the Provisional Agenda CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING QUESTIONS OF: TORTURE AND DETENTION Written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), A non-governmental organization with general consultative status Torture in Sri Lanka 1. Article 2 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) determines that any act of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment is an offence to human dignity to be condemned as a breach of the […]

Milk Prices In Sri Lanka: The Question of the Right to Food and Health

ALRC AT THE UN, CHR 58th Session - 2002, Commission on Human Rights, Countries, documents, Sri Lanka, Written Submissions March 4, 2002August 25, 2015 admin 0 Comments

Item 10 : ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS 5. Milk Prices In Sri Lanka: The Question of the Right to Food and Health Link to UNCHR COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Fifty-eighth Session Item 10 of the Provisional Agenda ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS Written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), A non-governmental organisation with general consultative status Milk prices in Sri Lanka 1. The rights to food and health are the most basic human rights. The right to food is codified in article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Without ensuring the availability of adequate and nutritious food, it is difficult […]

Sri Lanka: the Bindunuwewa Massacre

ALRC AT THE UN, CHR 57th Session - 2001, Commission on Human Rights, Countries, documents, Sri Lanka, Written Submissions January 30, 2001August 25, 2015 admin 0 Comments

Item 11(d): CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS THE QUESTION OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY, ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, IMPUNITY Sri Lanka: the Bindunuwewa Massacre (E/CN.4/2001/NGO/70) Link to UNCHR (E/CN.4/2001/NGO/70) COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Fifty-seventh session Item 11 (d) of the provisional agenda CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS THE QUESTION OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY, ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, IMPUNITY Sri Lanka: the Bindunuwewa Massacre 1. On October 25, 2000, twenty-six persons (twenty-nine by some estimates), were chopped to death, while about fourteen others were seriously injured, in a rehabilitation detention centre at Bindunuwewa, Badulla, Sri Lanka. According to the National Human Rights Commission, which inquired into the incident, “the police officers, approximately 60 in […]

Item 11(b): CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS THE QUESTION OF DISAPPEARANCES AND SUMMARY EXECUTIONS : Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances in Sri Lanka (E/CN.4/2001/NGO/65)

ALRC AT THE UN, CHR 57th Session - 2001, Commission on Human Rights, Countries, documents, Sri Lanka, Written Submissions January 30, 2001August 25, 2015 admin 0 Comments

Link to UNCHR (E/CN.4/2001/NGO/65) COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Fifty-seventh Session Item 11 (b) of the Provisional Agenda CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS THE QUESTION OF DISAPPEARANCES AND SUMMARY EXECUTIONS Written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre, a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances in Sri Lanka 1. Sri Lanka’s disappearance cases are an outstanding issue of gross human rights abuse. The Government of Sri Lanka has clearly ignored international efforts to address this concern. The time has come for the establishment of an international tribunal or similar body to press the matter. 2. The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances made the following recommendations […]