AHRC – People for Equality and Relief in Lanka

SRI LANKA: The need for a new alliance for democracy and rule of law in the south, north and the east

By pearlaction | January 5, 2009 |

[ AHRC ] The government’s declaration that the terrorism represented by the LTTE has been substantially defeated, despite of a small area which remains under LTTE control, should provide a much needed opportunity to deal with the widespread lawlessness in all parts of the country, the south, north and east; the most unprecedented types of…

The one-man show is unworkable

By pearlaction | December 23, 2008 |

[AHRC] A former minister of the government and a well-known lawyer, Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha, is quoted in Lankadissent (December 22), in an interview given earlier to Lakbima as saying: “I relinquished my ministerial position because I was not allowed to exercise my powers. I was the only minister without a secretary. Then, how could the work…

Corruption and sovereignty

By pearlaction | December 22, 2008 |

[AHRC] Is it an attribute of sovereignty that the state is allowed to be corrupt? Is it a challenge to sovereignty to question corruption and also to make corrupt leaders, civil servants and even powerful sectors of private business responsible before law and even to punish them? Can a state apparatus that does not have…

SRI LANKA: Crisis and Militarization in Sri Lanka

By pearlaction | March 1, 2008 |

[AHRC] One of the latest incidents highlighting the situation of Sri Lanka is the removal of the Director General of the Bribery Commission, who is the only person legally authorised to sign indictments relating to charges of bribery. Thus, by removing the authorised signatory the possibility of signing indictments has been neatly prevented. Observers have…

SRI LANKA: Confusion about the meaning of independence

By pearlaction | January 25, 2008 |

[AHRC] On February 4, Sri Lanka will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its independence from the British colonial empire. There is hardly any mood to celebrate in the country, however. Beset by enormous economic hardships and price hikes, by ever unprecedented levels of blatant corruption and abuse of power, rejection of adherence to the Constitution…