Sri Lanka

L A T E S T   N E W S

IBAHRI calls on Sri Lankan Government to ensure prompt and effective investigation into the assassination of journalists, 8 January 2010 Read the press release here Read The Guardian's article here Read The Sunday Leader's article here

 

IBAHRI hosted a side panel with Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims on Sri Lanka at UN event in Geneva on 29 September. Read more here.

IBAHRI gave evidence to the review of Sri Lanka’s implementation of certain human rights conventions as part of the EU GSP + trade agreement. The subsequent report, which references the IBA report Justice in Retreat, was published on 19 October 2009. Read the EU report here.

Fact-finding visit, 2009

In the final week of February 2009, the IBAHRI sent a high level delegation to Sri Lanka to examine the independence of the judiciary and lawyers. The mission was prompted at concerns of an increase in tensions between the judiciary and the government and in attacks against lawyers. The delegation also looked at the freedom of the media and journalists.

The report, entitled Justice in retreat: A report on the independence of the legal profession and the rule of law in Sri Lanka, was released in May 2009. Download the report here.

Following the release of the report the IBAHRI hosted a high-level debate on the issues at the Law Society in London on 25 June 2009. Read about the event here or select a category below to learn more.

Fact-finding visit, 2001

In 2001, the IBA sent a delegation to Sri Lanka to meet with the Bar Association, representatives of the media, judges, academics and politicians. The focus of the mission was to identify the circumstances surrounding the calling of a referendum on the Constitution and assess its implications for the rule of law.

The mission also examined attempts to disbar the Chief Justice from practising as a lawyer and attempts by over one-third of Members of Parliament to have him impeached. During its visit the delegation also became aware of serious threats to freedom of speech and the press in the country.

Sri Lanka: Failing to Protect the Rule of Law and the Independence of the Judiciary (November 2001)

• Download the report.

F A C T - F I N D I N G  A N D  R A P I D  R E S P O N S E  M I S S I O N S

The IBAHRI conducts visits on a regular basis to countries where there are signs of a deterioration of the rule of law.  Click here for details on the countries we have visited. To browse our work by activity, click here.

For further information contact hri@int-bar.org