Category: Uncategorized
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Justice vs. Mercy: Rethinking Penalties in a Compassionate Sri Lanka
The recent sentencing of former Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for misusing Rs. 320,000 in state funds brings a fundamental tension in Sri Lankan governance to light. While the misuse of public money by an official is undeniably a serious breach of trust, the severity of a mandatory seven-year…
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The “Evidence Deficit” Straw Man: How the BASL Shields Its Iron Grip Under the Guise of Judicial Independence
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has mounted an aggressive campaign against proposed constitutional amendments to extend judicial retirement ages, framing the reform as an existential threat to the rule of law. Yet, in an expansive, 1-hour and 24-minute broadcast interview defending this stance, the leadership of the BASL committed a fatal omission: not…
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Deconstructing the Referendum Argument: Why Bare Conclusions Cannot Replace Constitutional Analysis.
In recent public discourse surrounding proposed constitutional amendments in Sri Lanka—specifically regarding adjustments to the mandatory retirement age of judges of the Superior Courts—a recurring claim has emerged: that raising the retirement age of judges inherently requires approval by the People at a Referendum. When subjected to rigorous constitutional analysis, this proposition rapidly reveals itself…
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From Sabers to Structures: Beginning a National Conversation on Sri Lanka’s Peacetime Military
Introduction: A Country at a Crossroads Sri Lanka is entering a moment where difficult but necessary questions must be asked about the future of its large peacetime military. Seventeen years after the end of the civil conflict, the country faces economic stagnation, failing infrastructure, and shortages of skilled civilian labour. These challenges are not military…