News
Suwathi complains of gender disparity in higher judiciary
Convener of the rights organisation ‘Nidahase Kanthavo’ (Free Women) Suwanthi Weerasekara, condemned the persistent and alarming lack of female representation in Sri Lanka’s higher judiciary.
Addressing legal practitioners, civil society representatives, and media personnel, in Kurunegala,over the last weekend, Weerasekara highlighted how successive governments and appointing authorities have systematically failed to address the severe gender disparity in the nation’s highest courts.
According to data presented by the organisation, female representation in Sri Lanka’s apex courts has reached an unprecedented low. Despite an abundance of distinguished female legal scholars and practitioners across the country, the upper benches remain overwhelmingly male-dominated:
Supreme Court Disparity: Out of 17 sanctioned positions, only 13 are currently serving—with just one female judge (7.6%).
Court of Appeal Exclusion: Out of 20 sanctioned positions, only 16 are serving—with zero female judges (0.0%).
Combined Apex Court Impact: Across both top courts, out of 29 presiding judges, only one is a woman (3.4%).
Lower Courts & Bar Association: Lower court representation remains constrained (21.2% in High Courts and 34.8% in District/Magistrate Courts as of 2021).
Furthermore, in its entire history, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has never elected a female President.
“While the government moves swiftly to introduce constitutional amendments to grant service extensions to senior officials, it refuses to carry out the simplest, zero-cost task: filling existing judicial vacancies in accordance with non-discriminatory standards. Leaving these seats vacant while ignoring qualified women directly violates Article 12 of our Constitution, which guarantees equality of opportunity.”
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Latest News
M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to appoint M. M. D. J. Senarathne, who is the senior most officer in Grade I of Sri Lanka Scientific Service se
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India captain
Turkiye, Pakistan agree Saudi Arabia military deployment under Mecca pact
Rumesh Tharanga among nominees announced for World Athlete of the Year 2026
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Latest News7 days agoGold winner Tharanga gets brand-new Honda Vezel from SLAAJ
-
News6 days agoUS-assisted ‘Ice’ detection: NPC to examine IGP’s move to transfer drug-busting team
-
Features7 days agoWhy Sri Lanka needs an Inclusive Civic Nationalism – urgently
-
Editorial5 days agoColombo Port drug bust: The plot thickens
-
News7 days agoCivil society activist accuses govt. of favouring Ven. Gnanasara
-
Midweek Review7 days agoDappula’s Easter Sunday ‘grand conspiracy’ claim demolished
-
Editorial7 days agoWhen crime bosses rise above law and shrines
-
Editorial6 days ago
Drug busting, transfers and trust deficit