International Conference on
HUMAN RIGHTS, CITIZENSHIP AND
DEMOCRATISATION
ICHR Colombo 2016
Programme
Inauguration - 26 August 2016 at 15.30 at the Auditorium -Sri Lanka Foundation
ICHR 2016 from 27-28 August at BMICH (Lavender Hall)
Day 1 - 27 August 2016
8.30
Registration
Welcome Address by Professor Ravindra Fernando, Director, Centre for the Study of Human Rights
Theme : Domestic Human Rights Framework in Sri Lanka
9.00
Theme Seminar - Presentation by Professor Savitri Goonesekere, Emeritus Professor of Law
Q & A Session
Fundamental Rights
Fundamental Right of Freedom from Torture and International Law
Hewa Kotapola Gamage Asanka Ishan Dayapala
Legal Redress
Mechanisms
The UPR Process: Assessing its Potential to Catalyze Change
Gehan Dinuk Gunatilleke
Constitutional Reforms
and Human Rights
The Possibility of a “Consensus” Parliament in the Upcoming Sri
Lankan Constitution
Dinidu Sathsara Basnayake
State Sovereignty and
Human Rights Protection
Security Laws in Sri Lanka : A Critique from a Human Rights
Perspective
Jeeva Niriella
Comments by the Panellists on abstract presentation
Q & A by audience
Tea Break
11.10
Theme : International Human Rights Framework
Theme Seminar – Presentation by Mr. A Sarveswaran
Q & A Session
Chair
Professor Danielle Celermajer, Department of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Sydney
Presenting of papers
International Human
Right to Education and Copyright – Conflict or Coexistence? A
Rights Protection
Developing Country Perspective
Mechanisms
Dr. Nishantha Sampath Punchihewa
Regional Human Rights
Protection Systems
"Child's Right to be heard in Custody, Visitation and Guardianship
Matters: A Comparative Perspective with a Special Emphasis on the
Sri Lankan Experience"
G Anuthara Perera
Impact of International Human Rights Perspectives on Nepal‟s New
Constitution: Issues and Challenges in their Realization
Sakthivel Mani
Justice Procedure and „Digital India Programme‟: An Analysis of
Good Governance
Dr. Shahansha Gulpham
13.00
Comments by the Panellists on abstract presentation
Q & A by audience
Lunch Break
13.45
Theme : Citizenship, Democratisation and Peacebuilding
Theme Seminar- Presentation by Dr. Jehan Perera, Executive Director,
National Peace Council
Q & A Session
Presenting of papers
Good Governance and the
The Paradox of the Applicability of Human Rights within the
Rule of Law
Bureaucracy in Sri Lanka
Vidura Prabath Munasinghe / Ms. Kaushalya Ariyarathna
Citizenship and
Democracy
A Model for Citizenship Education Relevant to the Present Context
in Sri Lanka by
Dr. Palihawadana Arachchige Saman Weerawansa
Transitional Justice and
Peacebuilding
Transitional Justice: Political Transformations and Reconciliation
Attempts of Sri Lanka
Danushka Sewwandi Medawatte
Comments by the Panellists on abstract presentation
Q & A by audience
15.30
Special Session
Chair
Ms. Rose Wijeyesekera, Head, Department of Private & Comparative Law, Faculty of Law,
University of Colombo
Presenting of papers
LGBTQI Rights
A Socio-Cultural Analysis on Rights of LGBT in Sri Lanka
Unnathi S Samaraweera
Ensuring a Women Friendly Penal Code
Shashini Vidanapathirana Abeysinghe
Women’s Rights
Constructing the 'Female' in Judicial Pronouncements on Rape in Sri
Lanka : A critical discourse analysis
Sandani Abeywardena
Children's Rights
Protection of right to education of children under Indian
Constitution and Role of Indian Judiciary
Gyanendra Fulzalke
Comments by the Panellists on abstract presentation
Q & A by audience
Presentation of tokens of appreciations / certificates
Tea Break
ICHR 2016: Day 2 - 28 August 2016
8.30
Registration
Recap of Day 1 by Professor Ravindra Fernando, Director, Centre for the Study of Human Rights
Theme : Human Rights and Society
9.00
Theme Seminar-Presentation by Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Executive Director, Centre
for Policy Alternatives (Guarantee) Ltd. (CPA)
Q & A Session
Presenting of papers
The Role of Social
Conceptualization of Internet Access as an Instrumental Human
Movements and/or Civil
Right
Society
Dr. Yapahetti Pathirannehelage Shamitha Shalika Pathiratne /
P A B H Amarathunga
Human Rights Education
and Activism
10.45
The significance of social movements in defending socio-economic
rights in the context of globalization - with special reference to the
campaign of Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA)
to defend public education in Sri Lanka
Ramindu Lakkhika Perera
Comments by the Panellists on abstract presentation
Q & A by audience
Tea Break
Theme : Critical and Emerging Issues in Human Rights
Theme Seminar-Presentation by Hon. Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne,
Member of Parliament
Q & A Session
Presenting of papers
Theoretical and
Way forward: Human Rights or Human Duties- a Buddhist
perspective
Conceptual issues of
Prashantha Lal de Alwis
Human Rights
12.20
13.00
Emerging Trends in
Human Rights
A critical analysis of the value of the Right to Leisure as both an
independent and interdependent human right
Nishara Mendis
Human Rights Protection
in Armed Conflict
Situations
Human rights and international humanitarian law in times of armed
conflicts: the contribution of UN commissions of inquiry to the
debate
Dr. Isabelle Lassee
Comments by the Panellists on abstract presentation
Q & A by audience
Lunch Break
Theme : Human Rights of Specific Groups
Theme Seminar-Presentation by Professor Nayani Melegoda, Dean, Faculty of Graduate
Studies, University of Colombo
Q & A Session
Presenting of papers
Women’s Rights
The Rut of Formal Equality: Law and Gender (In)Justice in
Sri Lanka
Dr. Dinesha Samararatne
Children’s Rights
"Child's Right to be heard in Custody, Visitation and Guardianship
Matters: A Comparative Perspective with a Special Emphasis on the
Sri Lankan Experience"
Achalie M Kumarage
Rights of Indigenous
People
Rights of Differently Abled
Persons
The right to legal capacity for persons with intellectual and
psychosocial disabilities
Yanitra Kumaraguru
LGBTQI Rights
Equality is for all: Naturalizing “Unnatural” Sex
Manatunga Bandara Mudiyanselage Sajith Bandara
Comments by the Panellists on abstract presentation
Q & A by audience
15.05
Special Session
Chair
Professor Camena Gunaratne, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Open University of
Sri Lanka
Presenting of papers
Emerging Trends in
Human Rights
17.00
It's Time to get rid of the dilemna : Recognizing the right to a
healthy and ecologically balanced environment in Sri Lanka
Ayesha Karunawardhana
Human Rights Protection
in Armed Conflict
Situations
IHRL As a means of regulating conduct of UN forces during armed
conflicts
Pujima Charuka Ekanayake
Human Rights Protection
in Armed Conflict
Situations
Human Rights Protection Against Non-State Actors Involved in
Armed Conflict Situations
Joel Joseph
Transitional Justice and
Peacebuilding
From Victims to Actors: Empowering the families of disappeared in
Sri Lanka
Chathurika Sisimali Gunasekera
Comments by the Panellists on abstract presentation
Q & A by audience
Presentation of tokens of appreciations / certificates
Vote of thanks
Tea Break