Though the text of TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran’s speech was published earlier on the Internet, Groundviews was sent today the final version of the text, approved by the MP, which incorporates into the text his responses to interruptions during its delivery in Parliament on 8 September 2010. This text needs to be read in conjunction […]
This video complements Exclusive video: Parliamentary debate and objections to 18th Amendment published on Groundviews. The reasoned, well-argued full text of the speech made by TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran against the 18th amendment bill is published elsewhere on the Internet. However this video, procured exclusively by Groundviews, captures much more than the TNA MP’s own submission […]
Groundviews was able to procure exclusive video with highlights from the parliamentary debates on the 18th Amendment Bill. This video was recorded on 7th September 2010. This one hour video begins with the point of order raised by TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran, the synopsis of which can be read here. Inter alia, a salient point […]
To view this full-screen, click here. To download this judgement as a PDF click here.
Sri Lanka is a modern republic – which means that its system of government is based on the idea that the citizens of the country rule themselves through arrangements for the representation of their interests. Our constitution sets out these mechanisms, affirms fundamental rights of citizens and declares in its first chapter that, ëIn the […]
Loss of Moral Certainty It’s often seems hard to find a reasonable discussion in Sri Lanka about right and wrong, especially when it comes to questions of how our society is governed. Â I wonder if part of the reason is that too many of our social institutions and frameworks that shape how we draw our […]
A candle-light vigil by a small group of citizens was held today in Colombo against the 18th Amendment. We dispersed to news that it was passed, 161 to 20. Created from Vikalpa’s photo set.
“I define Justice or Right as what is in the interest of the stronger party – the ruling class in any state, but I can see you don’t agree” says Thrasymachus, the sophist to Socrates in Plato’s – The Republic. The sophists dismissed conventional morality as a sham and substituted self-interest. In Sri Lanka today […]
Photos taken today by Vikalpa at a demonstration against the 18th Amendment in Colombo organised by several civil society organisations, members of Left political parties and some Provincial Council members of the UNP. Created from Vikalpa’s photo set.
Lakshman Gunasekera is a senior journalist in Sri Lanka, former Editor of the Sunday Observer and head of the Sri Lanka Chapter of the South Asia Free Media Association. Groundviews interviewed him at a protest rally in Colombo today on the 18th Amendment.
Groundviews received a statement against the proposed 18th amendment to the Constitution by law students from the Faculty of Law University of Colombo, the Sri Lanka Law College and the Open University of Sri Lanka. As noted in the email we received, “The English copy has more names in it since we had some last […]
Photos taken on 7 September by Vikalpa at protests against the 18th Amendment held in Colombo by lawyers. Also listen to a statement by Chrishmal Warnasuriya, Bar Association of Sri Lanka on the Eighteenth Amendment. Created from Vikalpa’s photo set.
See a larger version of this letter here. After a discussion on the 18th Amendment, a group of citizens from Batticaloa had faxed this letter to Parliament this morning and sent it to Groundviews as well.
About 3500-4000 JVP supporters marched to Parliament on 7th September to demonstrate their opposition to the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution. It was reported that many of the protestors had come in from around the country and the protest itself was one of the largest and most vociferous this year. The following video was produced […]
Photos taken by Vikalpa at protests against the 18th Amendment held today in Colombo organised by the JVP. Created from Vikalpa’s photo set.