A meeting unprecedented and unique took place on January 19, 2012, at the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka’s head-office in Colombo, when the entire staff, including the island-wide regional staff, met a delegation from the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Human Rights Institutions, the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR), the Asia-Pacific Forum (APF) and the United Nations Human Rights Programme to discuss current issues Read More>>

The Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Mr. P.B. Abeykoon, has announced by a gazette notification published on January 13, 2012 that the permanent staff of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka will be entitled to a pension scheme applicable from the date the Commission was set up.   The Commission was set up by a gazette notification on August 23, 1996 under the Human Rights Commission of Read More>>

A consultation with representatives of civil society organizations led by Law and Society Trust was held on 05.12.2011 at HRCSL. Representatives from Law and Society Trust said at the outset of the meeting that regular interaction and discussion between civil society organizations and the HRCSL was important and useful.   The chairman Justice Priyantha R.P. Perera, Commissioner Mr. T.E. Anandarajah, HRCSL Secretary, Additional Secretary and Directors were present at the Read More>>

“An in-depth understanding of human rights should be inculcated in the minds of the younger generation by including its study in the education system,” said Justice C.G. Weeramanthri, Former Judge and Vice President of the International Court of Justice and Former Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka addressing International Human Rights Day celebration meeting organized by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL). He further said that Read More>>

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), N.K. Illangakone, has taken steps to ensure the right of a complainant to make a complaint and get it recorded in the language it is made. In a letter addressed to the Senior Deputy IGP, Northern Province, Gamini de Silva, the IGP has stressed that since Sinhala and Tamil have been accepted as official languages under the Constitution, all necessary steps should be taken Read More>>

The HRCSL discussion with the IGP and Police Officers on an invitation by the Chairman, HRCSL, was held on December 13, 2011 at the HRCSL. Justice Priyantha R.P. Perera, HRCSL Chairman Ms. Jezima Ismail, HRCSL member Mr. T.E. Anandarajah, HRCSL member, Dr. M.A.J. Mendis, HRCSL member, Ms. S. Thambydurai, HRCSL Secretary, Mr. Nimal G. Punchihewa, HRCSL Additional Secretary and Mr. H.A. Seneviratne, HRCSL Media and Legal Consultant were present at Read More>>

Several steps have been taken by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) recently to ensure non-violation of human rights by authorities entrusted with arrest and detention of persons under the law.   HRCSL officers have been visiting police stations to check the possibility of any illegal arrests and detentions. These visits, made at night, are also aimed at inquiring whether there could be instances of torture of arrested Read More>>

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has discussed with the Secretary to the Ministry of Agrarian Services and the Commissioner General of the Department of Agrarian Development, on matters regarding complaints made to the HRCSL by farmers.   It was revealed that complaints regarding farmers’ rights could not have been effectively attended to since Agrarian Service Tribunals were not set up during the last 12 years.   The Read More>>

The Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has instructed the police to refer child abuse cases to the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) for the monitoring of such cases by the NCPA.   These instructions were pursuant to a HRCSL inquiry into a complaint regarding an attack on children in the Children’s Home, Maggona, by a group of persons who had entered the premises. This attack Read More>>

Every year, International Human Rights Day is celebrated throughout the world to honour the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.