HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA, Annual Report 2019 21 April attacks bear testimony to the enhanced capacity of the Commission achieved through executing organizational changes and investments made in staff training to contribute more competently. ▪ Action taken in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks During 2019 the Commission engaged with various matters arising out of the Easter Sunday attacks (on 21 April 2019) including communal violence unleashed targeting the Muslim Community on the 13 th of May and thereafter. The Commission hastened to respond by appealing to the general public to refrain from retaliatory violence, addressing various government entities on the necessity to stop discriminatory treatment against the members of the Muslim Community (e.g. preventing access to public spaces by Muslim women wearing cultural attire, allegations impeding commercial activities by Muslim traders), visiting communities affected by the violence, holding and facilitating Island-wide intercommunity dialogues and conducting inquiries into the complaints lodged with the Commission. The Commission vigilantly monitored the human rights situation, held discussions, and made instant interventions in collaboration with relevant authorities. The Commission conducted several monitoring visits to the Colombo Crimes Division of the Sri Lanka Police, places of detention established under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, police stations, and the Welisara Naval Camp in order to inquire into the conditions of detention of the detainees apprehended in relation to the attack. All these visits were in addition to the routine visits to places of detention conducted by the Commission. HRCSL also conducted field visits to areas such as Negombo, Narammala, Minuwangoda, Bingiriya, Nathandiya, Anamaduwa, Kuliyapitiya, and Hettipola in the aftermath of the retaliatory violence against the Muslim community. In light of public protests against members of the refugee community belonging to the Muslim faith and Ahmadiya sect, in the aftermath of the bombings, the Commission also visited the Immigration Detention Centre in Mirihana and holding Centres for refugees and asylum seekers in several areas in order to examine their conditions and make interventions to improve their human rights situation as necessary. A 27