Thematic

Showing 10 Publication(s)
Explaining Sri Lanka’s New Emergency Regulations on ‘Publication’

The President issued a set of Emergency Regulations on 22 April 2019 in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka. This briefing note explains the contents of the Emergency Regulations concerning the ‘control of publications’, and certain other regulations relevant to publication.

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Sri Lanka: Resolution 30/1 Implementation Monitor: Statistical & Analytical Review No. 4

This is Verité Research’s latest study on the Sri Lankan government’s commitments on reconciliation and accountability. The 40th UNHRC Session began in February 2019, and Sri Lanka’s progress in implementing Resolution 30/1 will be taken up on 20 March 2019. This report analyses the government’s progress in fulfilling all 36 commitments made in UNHRC Resolution 30/1, as at March 2019.

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CSO Sustainability Index 2017 – Sri Lanka Country Report

The Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index (CSOSI) assesses the sustainability of the CSO sector across several countries in different regions around the world. Since its inception in 1997, it has expanded from covering 18 countries in the Europe and Eurasia Region, to covering a total of 71 countries in 2017, in regions including the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. By using standard indicators and collecting data each year, the CSOSI enables users to track developments and identify trends in the CSO sector over time while allowing for cross-country and cross-region comparison. It is used by CSO advocates, development partners, and academics to assess international and regional trends in the civil society sector and to identify common obstacles impeding the sector’s sustainability, such as the legal environment, organizational capacity, and financial viability. This is the fourth time Sri Lanka is participating in the index. Verité Research is the local implementing partner for this initiative.

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CSO Sustainability Index 2017 – Asia Report

The Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index (CSOSI) assesses the sustainability of the CSO sector across several countries in different regions around the world. Since its inception in 1997, it has expanded from covering 18 countries in the Europe and Eurasia Region, to covering a total of 71 countries in 2017, in regions including the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. By using standard indicators and collecting data each year, the CSOSI enables users to track developments and identify trends in the CSO sector over time while allowing for cross-country and cross-region comparison. It is used by CSO advocates, development partners, and academics to assess international and regional trends in the civil society sector and to identify common obstacles impeding the sector’s sustainability, such as the legal environment, organizational capacity, and financial viability. This is the fourth time Sri Lanka is participating in the index. Verité Research is the local implementing partner for this initiative.

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Online Proactive Disclosure Under the RTI Act in Sri Lanka

Verité Research and the World Bank developed a methodology to monitor online proactive disclosure of information, in accordance with the RTI Act. Verité Research then used this methodology to monitor and evaluate the online proactive disclosure of information across 55 public authorities in Sri Lanka. The report found that 20% of public authorities scored in the ‘moderately satisfactory’ band. The majority, 75% of public authorities scored within the ‘moderately unsatisfactory’ band and 5% scored ‘unsatisfactory’. No authority scored ‘satisfactory’ or ‘highly satisfactory’.

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Cabinet Decision to Ban Women from Purchasing Liquor is Unconstitutional

The Cabinet decision to withdraw Excise Notification No.02/2018 is unconstitutional. The Notification removes the ban on the sale of liquor to women within the premises of a tavern. This brief explains why the Cabinet decision constitutes an imminent infringement of the fundamental right to equal protection.

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The Public Debate on the Sale of Liquor to Women is Misinformed

On 10 January 2018, the Minister of Finance and Mass Media amended Excise Notification  No.666 of 31 December 1979. It is widely believed that by this act the Minister revoked a  prohibition on the sale of liquor to women. The President and the cabinet responded by  asking for the amendments to be reversed. This reversal is widely believed to have  reinstated the previous prohibition on women purchasing liquor. Verité Research finds  both these views to be poorly-informed.

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Sri Lanka: Resolution 30/1 Implementation Monitor: Statistical & Analytical Review No. 3

This is Verité Research’s latest study on the Sri Lankan government’s commitments on reconciliation and accountability. The ongoing UNHRC Session began on 26 February 2018, and will include a discussion on Sri Lanka’s progress in this regard. This report analyses the government’s progress in fulfilling all 36 commitments made inUNHRC Resolution 30/1, as at 26 February 2018.

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A Legal & Institutional Assessment of Sri Lanka’s Justice System for Children

Criminal justice institutions re-victimise children. This report details the legal and institutional challenges impeding justice for children in Sri Lanka. The report also details specific recommendations to divert children away from the justice system, and prevent institutionalisation being a matter of first resort.

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Right to Information: Discourse and Compliance in Sri Lanka

The report Right to Information: Discourse and Compliance in Sri Lanka was compiled in collaboration between Verité Research and Democracy Reporting International (DRI). Verité Research analysed the right to information in the Sri Lankan context while Democracy Reporting International detailed international best practices relating to proactive disclosure. The study examines the drafting of Sri Lanka’s RTI Act and existing laws that are inconsistent with its provisions. It recommends strategies to strengthen proactive disclosure of information, and to amend laws inconsistent with the RTI Act.

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