The newly appointed Commissioners of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka held a small group meeting with national-level civil society organizations at the Head Office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on 8th June 2021. The Commission met regional level civil society organizations by the series of meetings organized by the Regional Offices and Sub Offices of the Commission in March and April 2021.

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka expected to hold the two-day National Workshop with representatives of regional level civil society organizations and national-level civil society organizations in May 2021 and the Commission could not hold it, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic situation in the country. Therefore, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka decided to hold a series of small meetings with national-level civil society organizations. The current human rights issues identified by the civil society organizations and their proposals were discussed at the meeting.

Dr. Jehan Perera -National Peace Council, Mr. Lakshan Dias – Attorney at Law, Mr. Philip Dissanayake – Right to Life Human Rights Centre, Mrs. Chamila Thushari – Dabindu Collective, Mr. Prabodha Rathnayake – Rights Now, Ms. Ranitha Gnanarajah – Center for Human Rights & Development, and Rev.Fr. Mahendra Gunatilleke – Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC and the Chairman, HRCSL Dr. Jagath Balasuriya, Commissioners Mr. Harsha Nawaratne, Ms. Anusuya Shanmuganathan, Mr. Nimal Karunasiri participated in the meeting. Mrs. Hema Dharmawardena – Additional Secretary, HRCSL, Mr. Nihal Chandrasiri, Director – Research & Monitoring (Actg.), Mrs. Menaka Herath – Director- Education & Special Programmes, HRCSL, and Ms. Sulari Liyanagama, Director – Inquiries & Investigations (Actg.) were at the meeting.