Category: Elections
‘Defining the Vision’ – Debate Hosted by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that at its invitation, the four main Presidential candidates have nominated their leading economic policy experts to participate in a debate presenting each party’s economic policies and pledges ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election, on 29th August at the BMICH. Hon. Shehan Semasighe representing the President […]
“Chanda Salli Meetare”: First-Ever Campaign Finance Observation Tool Unveiled
For the first time in Sri Lanka, six prominent Election Observation Organizations, namely, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), Hashtag Generation, and the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) have established a Campaign […]
Presidential Election to be held on September 21
The Election Commission of Sri Lanka has issued the Gazette notification announcing the date of the 2024 Presidential Election and the date for accepting nominations. Accordingly, according to the Gazette notification, the Presidential Election will be held on 21 September 2024 and Nominations will be accepted on 15 August 2024.
Online Safety Act: Transparency International Sri Lanka demands corrective action
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) expressed its strong disapproval regarding the Sri Lankan government’s passage of the Online Safety Act, despite it lacking crucial amendments mandated by the Supreme Court. “We are appalled by the outrageous conduct of the Government, Parliament, Attorney General and the Speaker in signing off on a version of the Online […]
March 12 Movement Denounces Online Safety Bill Passage, Citing Constitutional Concerns
The March 12 Movement, a civic activist group in Sri Lanka, has strongly denounced the passage of the Online Safety Bill on January 24th, 2024, which they claim was done in an unlawful manner. The group reiterates that the Online Safety Bill poses a grave threat to the fundamental rights and democratic principles enshrined in […]
Opinion: Sri Lanka’s Proposed Internet Law Threatens Upcoming Elections
By Meenakshi Ganguly: A repressive new internet law that Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe is trying to rush through parliament this week would create broad and vague new speech-related offenses punishable by lengthy prison terms. The law would seriously threaten the right to freedom of expression as Sri Lanka prepares for parliamentary and presidential elections […]
TISL condemns private member’s bill to reconvene dissolved Local Government Authorities without holding elections
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) condemns the anti-democratic private member’s bills presented to Parliament by SLPP MP Jayantha Ketagoda to re-convene the dissolved Local Government Authorities (LGAs) without holding elections. TISL believes that this move would be a heavy blow to the people’s sovereignty enshrined in the Constitution. Local Government Members are the grass-roots level […]
End Arbitrary Detention of Student Activist: Human Rights Organizations
The Sri Lankan government should immediately end the arbitrary detention of Wasantha Mudalige, a student activist who was arrested on August 18, 2022, seven human rights organizations said today. Since August 21, Mudalige, 29, has been held on orders signed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), a draconian law that […]
‘s Foreign Minister gets phone call from US Secretary of State
Jun 30, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has engaged in a discussion on the review report of the MCC among other matters in a telephone conversation on 29 June evening. US-Sri Lanka cooperation in COVID response-supply of PPEs to the US, donation of […]
I step down from Parliamentary Election: Mangala Samaraweera
Jun 09, 2020 (LBO) – Mangala Samaraweera says that from today he steps down from the politics of being a member of parliament and requests the people of Matara to refrain from casting their preferential votes for him at the upcoming 2020 parliamentary election although his name appears in the electoral list as a candidate […]
No politics during General Election – President warns heads of state institutes
Jun 08, 2020 (LBO) – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa advises all Heads and members of Board of Directors of State entities including Corporations and Statutory Boards, appointed by his government, not to engage in political activities in favor of any political party during the upcoming General Election. “If any Head or Board member wishes to extend […]
I will not reconvene Parliament unilaterally: former Speaker
May 02, 2020 (LBO) – Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya says that he will not reconvene the Parliament unilaterally and contribute to aggravate the emerging constitutional dispute. Releasing a statement, Jayasuriya further states that he is bound to uphold the constitution and to act as per the verdict of the judiciary as the Speaker of the […]