Sri Lanka

Press releases 2010 & 2011:

IBAHRI expresses regret at Bar Association of Sri Lanka’s unreserved condemnation of appointment of UN Panel on Accountability 27 June 2011. Read the extensive media coverage of the IBA press release here. Emergence of war crimes video evidence brings IBAHRI call on Sri Lankan Government to establish credible investigation 21 June 2011 Gradual erosion of judicial independence in Sri Lanka concerns IBAHRI 2 June 2011 Read media coverage here: Lanka Business Online; Hinustan times IBAHRI alarmed by reports of coercion of prominent human rights advocates in Sri Lanka, 12 March 2010 Read coverage by the BBC here IBAHRI calls on Sri Lankan Government to ensure prompt and effective investigation in the assassination of journalists, 8 January 2010. Read The Guardian's article here

 

Panel event, 2009

 

At a special side event at the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday 29 September 2009 the Danish Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) and the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) presented thorough and groundbreaking documentation of the decline of rule of law and the prevalence and causes of torture in Sri Lanka. 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 EU report was released on 19 October 2009 and references the IBA 2009 report, Justice in retreat: A report on the independence of the legal profession and the rule of law in Sri Lanka, released earlier that year.

Fact finding mission, 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.

Panel debate, 2009

Following the release of the 2009 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 mission, 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.

The report entitled: Sri Lanka: Failing to Protect the Rule of Law and the Independence of the Judiciary, was released in Novemebr 2001.

• Download the report.

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For further information about our work in Sri Lanka contact hri@int-bar.org