TWENTIETH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION, PARLIAMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA (Sinhala, Tamil, English)

1. This Act may be cited as the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution. 2. The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (in this Act referred to as the “Constitution”) is hereby amended in paragraph (3A)(a)(i) of Article 31 thereof, by the substitution, for the words “by election, for a further term.” of the words “by election, for a second term.” Read the full amendment in English Read the full amendment in Sinhala Read the full amendment in Tamil

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SHORT ANALYSIS ON SENTENCING POLICIES ON TORTURE 2019

The research provides a short-analysis of sentencing policies on Torture in Sri Lanka, specifically the violation of Article 11 of the constitution of Sri Lanka. In the process of analyzing cases from 1981- 2019 we have collected and analyzed 100 judgements from the Supreme Court only. We have included Article 12(1), 13(1) and 13(2), as most often these articles were considered by the Petitioner when filing for breach of Article 11. The judges evaluated each of the 100 cases subjectively on a case by case basis based on the evidence…

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OFFICE FOR REPARATIONS ACT, No. 34 OF 2018 ( Sinhala, English, Tamil,)

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE FOR REPARATIONS; TO IDENTIFY AGGRIEVED PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR REPARATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROVISION OF INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE REPARATIONS TO SUCH PERSONS; TO REPEAL THE REHABILITATION OF PERSONS, PROPERTIES AND INDUSTRIES AUTHORITY ACT, NO. 29 OF 1987 ANDTOPROVIDE FORALLMATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH OR INCIDENTAL THERETO. WHEREAS the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka recognizes the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable human rights of all Sri Lankans and the State’s obligation to respect, secure and advance these…

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Leelawathie Hariot Perera and others vs. N.K. Illangakoon, Inspector General of Police, and others SC /FR/ Application No 372/2015

As submitted on behalf of the Petitioners, one Rumesh Liroshan Fernando who was only 20 years at the time of his untimely demise, was a victim of a stabbing which took place on 24th October 2010. The victim had succumbed to his injuries at Kalubowila Hospital, and the Police Officers 3 who investigated into the death of the above named deceased, had reported the facts before the Hon. Magistrate of Moratuwa on 25.10.2010 under B Report No 1677/10. The 4th Respondent to the present application namely Widanalage Amesh Asantha de…

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Naomi Michelle Cokeman vs The Hon. Attorney General Attorney General’s Department S.C (FR) Application 136/2014

On the day in question as pleaded Petitioner arrived in Sri Lanka at the Katunayake airport. All official steps as clearance from Customs AND Immigrations were attended and was permitted entry. She proceeded towards the exit of the airport. Petitioner was approached by a taxi driver called ‘Kelum’ who was later identified and another bystander informed her that the tattoo she was displaying on her right arm is objectionable in Sri Lanka. Thereafter another person claiming to be a member of the Civil Defence Force came to the scene and…

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Suriyarachchige Lakshman de Silva and B.M.Ajantha Weerasinghe vs Patabendige Chaminda Edirisuriya and others SC.FR Application No:-09/2011

According to Petitioners on 10.08.2010 at about 12.45 a.m whilst the  Petitioners and their children were visiting relatives and when they were not at home , the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Respondents had visited the Petitioners’ residence in the 5th Respondents vehicle had forcibly instructed the 1st Petitioner’s mother and nephew to allow them to search their house. Soon thereafter whilst still in their home, the 1st Respondent telephoned the 2nd Petitioner and ordered her to bring her husband to Kiribathgoda Police Station immediately. Due to the abusive language,…

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To study how important, it is the Commemoration of disappeared ones on 27th of October By Hesha Luckmini Jayasooriya ;;ඔක්තෝබර් 27 අතුරුදහන් වූවන් සමරීමේ උත්සවයේ වැදගත්කම පිළිබද අධ්‍යයන වාර්තාව; හේෂා ලක්මනි ජයසූරිය.

Sri Lanka became infamous in the world as a country where people disappear mysteriously during the decade of 1070.That disappearing culture works against the opposing groups and the people who tend to question the existing situation in the political field of Sri Lanka. This was seriously happened during the period of 1987-1989.On October 27th in 1989, H.M. Ranjith, a leader in the trade zone, and M. Lionel, the legal instructor of Ranjith, were killed in the Raddoluwa junction in Seeduwa. On October 27th in 1991, a group of 17 members…

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Rathnasiri Fernando vs Police Sergeant Dayarathna and others SC (F/R) Application Vs. No: 514/2010

On 09-08-2010 at around 3.30pm, when the Petitioner was at his place of work, the 1st and 2nd Respondents clad in civil had come on a motor bike and asked for toddy. The Petitioner has said he did not have toddy for sale. The Petitioner alleged that the 1st and the 2nd Respondents smelt of liquor at that time. The 1st and 2nd Respondents insisted that they be given a bottle of toddy and when the Petitioner indicated he does not have toddy, the 1st and 2nd Respondents have threatened…

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Edward Sivalingam vs Sub Inspector Jayasekera, CID, Colombo 1. Officer-in-Charge, CID, Colombo 1. S.C. (F/R) No. 326/2008

The Petitioner in his Petition (dated 7th August 2008) stated that he was a resident of Killinochchi. When he was 13 years old he had been forcibly taken by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) but had been later released when his parents pleaded on his behalf but no details or specific 3 facts have been given with regards to the date or the release. On or about August 2006 the Petitioner had come from Killincochi to Vavuniya in order to travel to Colombo. On 04th August 2006, at…

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Dodampe Gamage Asantha Aravinda vs Atapattu (21899) Police Sergeant, Police Station, Pitabeddara, Bandu Saman (64017) Police Constable, Police Station, Pitabeddara and another | No:26/2009

The Petitioner, by this petition, inter alia, seeks a declaration to the effect that his fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 11,12(1),13(1) and 13(2) of the Constitution have been violated by the Respondents . This Court by its order dated 11.2.2009, granted leave to proceed for alleged violation of Article 11 and 12(1) of the Constitution. The Petitioner in his petition alleges the following facts. When the petitioner on 28.2.2008 riding his motor cycle with his friend Thushara Chaminda on the pillion in Pitabeddara (name of a village) area, lorry driven…

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