Free For All
On November 16, a 3 day long standoff between the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the United National Front, the Tamil National Alliance and the JVP turned violent. In an unprecedented move,…
Author: Groundviews
Multiple Legal Challenges to Presidential Proclamation on Dissolving Parliament
At least 10 petitions challenging the Presidential proclamation to dissolve Parliament and call for general elections were filed before the Supreme Court on November 12. Among the respondents were political parties, members…
On Interpretation of the Constitution: Statement by 75 Lawyers, Academics
We the undersigned, note with concern, the methods by which the Constitution of Sri Lanka is being interpreted to justify the appointment of a purported Prime Minister on the 26th of October,…
No Constitution = No Democracy: A Statement by 900 Sri Lankan Students on #CoupLK
The first unconstitutional transfer of power in Sri Lanka’s post-independence history occurred two weeks ago. On November 9, the constitution was breached yet again in an attempt to consolidate that coup. President…
Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero Memorial Lecture by Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda
Recording of the Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero Memorial Lecture by Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda on 8 November 2018, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The lecture is in Sinhala. 41mins. Video of the lecture, recorded…
Taking A Stand
On November 4, 2018, a group of people gathered at the Liberty roundabout in Kollupitiya. For some, it was their fifth day of standing in protest. Following news that President Maithripala Sirisena…
INFOGRAPHIC: The cost of an MP – Who pays the price?
On October 29th, UNP Member of Parliament and State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene tweeted the following: Offers to party leaders Rs.500 million, ministers Rs 300 million to crossover and support MS and…
On the Speaker’s inaction: “Flimsy, unforgivable excuses”
Photo via News1st On 4th November 2018, a tweet by Indi Samarajiva noted that the Speaker wouldn’t act to reconvene Parliament. Constitutional expert, Lecturer in Public Law, Edinburgh Law School & Director,…
The Constitutional Crisis: A Round Up
On October 26, news broke that the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) had withdrawn from the coalition government. Shortly after, SLPP MP Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn in as Prime Minister by President…
A Coup in Asia’s Oldest Democracy: A Statement by Sri Lankan Students
28th October 2018 We are a group of Sri Lankan students currently pursuing our education overseas. We write today to express our deep concern about Sri Lanka’s ongoing constitutional and political crisis….
A constitutional crisis in Sri Lanka | Updates, analysis & insights
Photo courtesy The Business Times Sri Lanka was plunged into a constitutional crisis on Friday, with the announcement that President Maithripala Sirisena had removed PM Ranil Wickremesinghe from his office, and swore…
Demons in Paradise: Capturing the Conversation
On October 2, Director of the documentary film “Demons in Paradise” Jude Ratnam issued a press release, noting that his documentary had been pulled from the programme of the Jaffna International Cinema…
#FreeShahidulAlam: Tweets from the protest in Colombo
A protest was held on October 2nd 2018 in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo, asking for the release of Dr. Shahidul Alam, renowned photojournalist and activist imprisoned in Bangladesh…
#FreeShahidulAlam: On protests and press freedom
Shahidul Alam is no stranger to Sri Lanka. In January 2005, the renowned photojournalist and activist documented damage wrought by the tsunami. His blog titled ‘Boxing Day blues’ shows a letter sent…
Money Talks: some facts around the depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee
The Sri Lankan rupee has depreciated against the US dollar on several occasions this year first on June 11 and then on June 20, when its value stood at Rs. 161.17. Reports…