This course will focus on three main parts; namely, the Right to Information, the Right to Development and Sustainable Development.
Under the Right to Information (RTI), this module will discuss the origin and nature of RTI while highlighting international standards, Sri Lankan Constitutional recognition, and the statutory framework of the RTI regime in Sri Lanka as a case study. Students will be taught the substance, procedure, and importance of the RTI Act in Sri Lanka and its implementation to secure and enhance democratic values in Sri Lankan society.
Under the second part, this course explores the concept of the Right to Development, examining its nature, historical evolution, and key international instruments. Students will analyze the fundamental principles underlying this right and its evolution over time, alongside exploring legal frameworks established to promote and protect it globally. Additionally, the course provides a comparative examination of perspectives from the Global North and South, fostering a nuanced understanding of development challenges and perspectives.
The third section of this course provides an overview of Sustainable Development, with the aim of conceptualizing how sustainable development can be achieved in government, business and society. The candidates will examine the origin, key features, the global and national debates and the obstacles to achieving sustainable development. This section follows an interdisciplinary approach that highlights the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainable development through an analysis of selected case studies. It further addresses the nexus between sustainable development and human rights, in view of new trends in globalization.