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,…
The Constitutional Coup
THE COUP DE GRACE ON THE COUP D’ETAT?
Since 26 October, virtually every gambit and calculation of the instigators of the Sri Lankan constitutional coup have failed. Initially, they relied on the element of surprise to cover up the illegality…
Supreme Court: Freedom’s Last Defense
The constitution is perhaps the most read official document in Sri Lanka today. Subjected to selective reading, a few of its words and sentences have been gaining some strange interpretations. Amidst an…
Professor Ratnajeevan Hoole: The Election Commission Believes the President Violated the Constitution
All three members of Sri Lanka’s Election Commission (EC) believe that President Maithripala Sirisena violated the constitution when he issued a Proclamation to dissolve Parliament and called for elections, according to Professor…
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,…
The Dissolution of Parliament in the Constitution of Sri Lanka
Further exacerbating the constitutional crisis that he precipitated a fortnight ago, President Sirisena issued a proclamation purporting to dissolve Parliament on 9thNovember 2018. Having prorogued Parliament and then lost the gamble to…
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…
Reigning in the Executive President
For the most part of the last few weeks we have been in a suspended state of disbelief. Yes, the 2015 government had not lived up to its expectations, some people were…
Deranged
Image via Al Jazeera One man created chaos out of order and plunged an entire country into a seemingly bottomless crisis. Just one ordinary man, in a fortnight. Would Maithripala Sirisena have…
The Gravest Crisis
President Sirisena’s actions in dissolving Parliament on the night of November 9 is yet another blatant violation of an explicit provision of the constitution. If the President violates the constitution so frequently…
A tale beyond a tale of two Prime Ministers: A Reflection
The current political crisis has descended to very worrying depths. In a matter of days we have observed an alarming cycle of vindictive politics charged with scheming and aggression. Political rhetoric is…
On Dissolution of Parliament
Featured image by Raisa Wickrematunge There is speculation that Parliament will be dissolved. Arguments have been made for and against the right of the President to dissolve Parliament at will, at any…
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…
An Open Letter to President Maithripala Sirisena
Editors Note: 7th November 2018 His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President, Sri Lanka. Your Excellency, I write as a loyal citizen of Sri Lanka and a proud recipient of the great titular honour…
