Category: English

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-004-2022 21 October 2022 ———————————–SRI LANKA: Peaceful Protesters Face Attacks, Reprisals, and Arbitrary Detention ISSUES: Arbitrary Detention; Access to Justice; Right to Fair Trial; Freedom of Peaceful Assembly; Right to Liberty; Reprisals against Activists———————————— Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received credible information from independent human rights defenders that Mr. Wasantha Mudalige (29), Convenor of the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF), Mr. Galwewa Siridhamma Himi (26), Convenor of the Inter University Bhikku Federation, and Mr. Siridhamma…

By Raju Prabath Lankaloka Establishing the Lanka Samasamaja Party (LSSP) in 1935, was led to the beginning of the left movement in Sri Lanka. Even before its inception, they had developed an anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist image through massive struggles such as the Suriyamal Movement, their role played in the malaria epidemic, and the Wellawatte Weaving Mill struggle etc. In 1936 they contested for 4 seats in the Legislature and won 2 of them. Marxism was introduced to Sri Lanka by the LSSP. With the formation of the Fourth International in…

RAJANI THIRANAGAMA MEMORIAL EVENT  PEOPLE’S SOVEREIGNTY AND PEOPLE’S COUNCILS SATURDAY, 01 OCTOBER 2022 2 – 6 PM TRIMMER HALL, VEMBADI ROAD, JAFFNA (NEAR THE CLOCK TOWER) A WORKSHOP The Aragalaya- Poraattam – Struggle – of the one hundred days raised fundamental questions about governance, accountability, economic stability and security. The Struggle brought different communities together into one rallying call, the call for democracy and more democracy. One of the key proposals to come out of the movement is the idea of People’s Councils. It has been held by many that People’s…

Venue: Trimmer Hall, Jaffna (Vembadi Road, Near Clock Tower Road) Time:  1st October 2022 (Saturday) from 2 PM to 6 PM At this event, copies of the recent publications, 1.    Democracy Stillborn: Lanka’s Rejection of Equal Rights at Independence? by Rajan Hoole and Kirupaimalar Hoole and 2.    இடம்பெயர்ந்த நுழைவிடங்கள் (Jaffna Doors and Windows) by Sarath Chandrajeewa will be on display for sale. Prices of Books: 1.     Democracy Stillborn: Lanka’s Rejection of Equal Rights at Independence – Rs 3, 600/ – with 20% discount on the original Rs 4,500 applicable to this event 2.     இடம்பெயர்ந்த நுழைவிடங்கள் (Jaffna Doors and Windows) – Rs. 10, 000/-

By Raju Prabath Lankaloka “6.3 million people are food insecure. This is likely to deteriorate as the crisis unfolds. “6.7 million people are not consuming acceptable diets. “Household food security and nutrition situation is set to deteriorate as the crisis ensues, according to WFP and FAO’s recent Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission. “Nationally, 6.3 million people were found to be food insecure (28.3 percent). Of these, at least 65,600 people are severely food insecure. These figures could increase drastically without immediate intervention. “Skyrocketing food costs are making it harder…

2022 April (Vol. 02 – Issue No. 04) This monthly report includes briefs on incidents related to press freedom and follow-up of previous incidents and relevant observations. We have also focused on new incidents related to freedom of speech and expression of people, new laws and the responses from the international community regarding legal reforms and relevant propositions. In April 2022, FMM observed 26 incidents relevant to the scope/ criteria selected by FMM to monitor press freedom. They included nine incidents related to the safety and security of the journalists,…

By Raju Prabath Lankaloka The mass struggle taken place in Sri Lanka, which forced Gotabhaya flee from country, immediately prompted the most frantic discussion amongst representatives of the ruling class, who are terrified of similar events occurring elsewhere. As the Financial Times wrote in the week following Rajapaksa’s overthrow: “Economic pressures bring political instability – and today economic pressures are everywhere.” Bloomberg warned that a “historic cascade of defaults is coming for emerging markets”. More than 19 countries, with a population of more than 900 million people, have debt levels…