contempt of court and legal framework

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is a regional human rights organization. The organization seriously monitored and studied the law on contempt of court and its application in Sri Lanka. The AHRC is deeply concerned about the violation of Sri Lankan Constitution, which is in line with international law, by depriving the accused of the protection of the law. The AHRC pays special attention to the interpretation of international law as well as the Constitution of Sri Lanka by Article 105 (3) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The logic…

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An unofficial translation of National Prison Study lunch by SLCAT

During the months of April and September 2018, the former National Human Rights Commission had conducted a study on prisons and inmates in Sri Lanka. This study report provides data on living conditions inside their prisons, sanitation, humanitarian transactions, food, and the needs and rights that an inmate must meet and make recommendations in this regard. It was prepared in English by the Human Rights Commission and translated into Tamil and Sinhala by the Sri Lankan Collective against Torture and launched on January 25 at the Renuka Hotel, Colombo. Former…

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United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international human rights treaty of the United Nations intended to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Parties to the Convention are required to promote, protect, and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities and ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy full equality under the law. The Convention serves as a major catalyst in the global disability rights movement enabling a shift from viewing persons with disabilities as objects of charity, medical treatment and social protection towards viewing them as full and equal members…

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International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families

The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CRMW) is a global diplomatic deal to guarantee dignity and equality in an era of globalization. The UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 45/158 without a vote on December 18, 1990. The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW) is the mechanism to monitor and measure the national agencies and actors responsible for implementation of the CRMW articles. The Convention sets minimum standards…

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International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), make up the International Bill of Human Rights. In accordance with the Universal Declaration, the Covenants recognize that “… the ideal of free human beings enjoying civil and political freedom and freedom from fear and want can be achieved only if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his civil and political rights, as well as his economic, social and cultural…

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International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Considering that the Charter of the United Nations is based on the principles of the dignity and equality inherent in all human beings, and that all Member States have pledged themselves to take joint and separate action, in co-operation with the Organization, for the achievement of one of the purposes of the United Nations which is to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights…

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Jayamuni Anuradha Nilmini Vijesekara Vs .Sumedha Thushanga and others SC (FR) 449/2017

Chadik Shaman (42), who died of a police assault after being arrested by the Peliyagoda Police on February 25, 2017. Chadik Shamen, a father of two, was illegally arrested by a group of plainclothes police officers of Peliyagoda police without filing any charges. The next day, his wife received a phone call informing that Chadik was dead. Later, at the post-mortem examination at the Colombo National Hospital, the JMO had told to Chadik’s wife that the body had been subjected to severe torture  and that the death had occurred as…

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Kanda Udage Malika Vs D.M. Aberathna and others SC/ FR/ 157/2014

On the May 7, 2014 Sandun Malinga, a 17 year old boy and four others with him were beaten by police officers, arrested and detained at the Kandaketiya police in the Badulla district. Sandun and the other four were taken to the District Medical Officer (DMO), brought back to the police, taken to a Magistrate and remanded in the Badulla remand prison in the evening. The following day, May 9, around 5.30 am his brother who had been also remanded saw Sandun panting and struggling for breath and alerted the…

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