One killed, several injured as Sri Lanka police open fire at protesters
Sri Lankan police Tuesday opened fire at people who were protesting against the new fuel price hike, killing one and injuring 13 others. This was the first incident of shooting by security forces during weeks of demonstrations over the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. Sri Lanka is facing the worst financial crisis in its [...]
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers Sunday reportedly resigned amidst rising public anger against the government over the economic crisis in the country. All ministers except Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa signed a letter stating their resignation, paving the way for a new cabinet to be formed. The letter was submitted to the prime minister, who will [...]
Sri Lanka parliament passes constitutional amendment expanding presidential power
The Parliament of Sri Lanka Thursday passed the Twentieth Amendment to the country’s constitution, repealing a past administration’s limitations on presidential powers and expansion of parliamentary powers. The amendment has raised concerns that authoritarian President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s power has become unbounded. The amendment was passed in the Sri Lankan House by a vote of 156-65. [...]
A democracy is balanced mainly on the supremacy of law as no one is above law. The recent development in this month raising a serious threat towards the doom of democracy. The loggerhead battle and the shuffle up of the whole country was witnessed by the whole world in the last two years. Now, a [...]
Sri Lanka PM announces withdrawal from UN resolution to investigate war crimes
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa announced Wednesday that his country will withdraw from co-sponsorship of a 2015 UN resolution which sought to investigate war crimes committed on the island during the country’s civil war. It is believed the move is a response to the US imposing a travel ban on Sri Lanka’s army commander [...]
Mahinda Rajapaksa, appointed Prime Minister of Sri Lanka last month, has been barred from taking office by a Colombo court’s order on Monday. The Appeals Court asked that he reappear by December 12 with justification for his taking office since Parliament voted against him twice and announced that no cabinet could function under him if [...]
Sri Lanka Supreme Court overturns president's decision to dissolve parliament
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on Tuesday overturned the president’s decision to dissolve parliament and called for a halt in preparations for a snap election on January 5. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved parliament because he lacked the support to install the prime minister of his choice, Mahinda Rajapaksa, after firing the previous [...]
Amnesty India: Sri Lanka presidential visit should emphasize justice
Amnesty International India (AII) said Sunday that a meeting between Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi should emphasize justice and the rule of law. Sirisena is traveling to India on...
The newly elected government in Sri Lanka announced Wednesday that it is planning to investigate accusations of human rights abuses during the closing stages of the 26-year civil war, after former president Mahinda Rajapaksa refused to cooperate...
The Sri Lankan government on Wednesday said that its new president has reinstated former chief justice Shirani Bandaranayake , calling the impeachment a procedural error. Both her removal and the installation of her successor, according to the...
