Voices & Views
Commentary, reflections, and analyses from the LAARC community come together here on this page. Featuring a mix of opinion-driven blogs and accessible insights, offering timely responses to emerging issues in Sri Lanka and beyond, Voices and Views is a space for diverse perspectives grounded in thoughtful observation and research-informed thinking.
The Opinions
Opinions offer commentary and personal reflections from LAARC researchers, students, and collaborators. These pieces provide space for individual viewpoints on unfolding events, academic themes, or fieldwork experiences. They aim to provoke thought, open dialogue, and present alternative lenses — often informal, always engaged.
Insights
Insights provide clear, accessible analyses of current developments in law, economics, governance, and social change. Drawing on research and field knowledge, these pieces bridge the gap between academic work and public understanding. While not exhaustive, Insights aim to inform discourse and offer starting points for deeper exploration.
SHADOW TOURISM: HOW OFFSHORE OPERATIONS THREATEN SRI LANKA'S GROWTH AND FAIR COMPETITION
Policy Prism
Issue 1
Authored by:
Gavinu Senevrathne and Viduravi Athulathmudali
Date:
2025 සැප්තැම්බර් 25
This insight article explores how Sri Lanka can counter the tourism shadow economy through regulatory reform, fiscal oversight, and digital payment monitoring. Drawing on global examples, it highlights the potential to protect revenues, ensure fair competition, and strengthen economic sovereignty.
THE SUPREME COURT'S X-PRESS PEARL JUDGEMENT: A LANDMARK IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTITUTIONALISM AND MARITIME ACCOUNTABILITY
Legal Bites
Issue 3
Authored by:
Viduravi Athulathmudali and Udeep Tennakoon
Date:
2025 ජ ූලි 27
This insight article examines the landmark July 2025 ruling by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on the MV X-Press Pearl marine disaster, widely regarded as the country's most significant environmental judgment to date. Through a narrative reconstruction of the ship’s ill-fated voyage and the ensuing courtroom drama, it unpacks the court’s findings on corporate negligence, state accountability, and the far-reaching ecological and legal consequences of the spill.
FROM BALLOTS TO ACTION: Using Direct Democracy to Enforce Government Accountability
Legal Bites
Issue 1
Authored by:
Menuka Rahul Premashantha and Dileka Kanchanamala
Date:
2025 මැයි 22
This insight article examines how implementing a recall mechanism in Sri Lanka could empower citizens, enhance accountability, and strengthen democratic governance. It highlights global examples, constitutional challenges, and the transformative potential of enabling the public to hold elected officials accountable between elections.
JUDICIAL DEFERENCE AND THE VITAL ROLE OF MINORITY OPINIONS IN CONSTITUTIONAL CRISES: LESSONS FROM SATHKUNANATHAN V AG
Legal Bites
Issue 4
Authored by:
Mihika Gunasekere and Viduravi Athulathmudali
Date:
2025 සැප්තැම්බර් 10
This article explores Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere’s dissent in Sathkunanathan v Attorney-General, examining how minority opinions safeguard democratic values, shape constitutional development, and illuminate the balance between judicial deference and accountability in times of crisis. It situates the dissent within Sri Lanka’s constitutional framework, common law traditions, and international perspectives on emergency powers.
ONE WHO COMES TO COURT MUST COME WITH CLEAN HANDS: A Critical Reflection on CA Writ Application 168/25
Legal Bites
Issue 2
Authored by:
Samadhi Hansani Premasiri
Date:
2025 ජූනි 5
This insight article examines the case of Deshabandu Tennakoon v. Hon. B. A. Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa & Others, highlighting legal tensions surrounding police accountability, procedural fairness, and constitutional rights in Sri Lanka following a fatal 2023 shooting. The Court's dismissal underscores evolving standards in judicial oversight and rule of law.