HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA, Annual Report 2019 ▪ Harassment and discrimination in the education sector based on religious attire (HRC/Suo/Motu/09/19) Pursuant to information released in electronic media, an investigation was launched in to the denial of access to a public school to a group of teachers of the Puwakpitiya Tamil Maha Vidyalaya who had arrived at the school in Islamic religious attire by the members of the School Development Society on or around 07 May 2019. It also came to light that these teachers were subsequently transferred to another school in the area by the Zonal Department of Education. The inquiry in to the alleged Discriminatory treatment of the teachers in the immediate aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks continues. ▪ Harassment and discrimination in the public health sector based on religious attire (HRC/Suo./Motu/11/19) The Commission launched an investigation into a similar incident as above in the public health sector. Newspapers reported that the Family Health Clinic at Atulugama, Bandaragama, has been closed in protest against the arrival of certain pregnant mothers belonging to the Islamic faith attired in Burkas on or around 09 May 2019. The inquiry in to the alleged Discriminatory treatment of the mothers continues. ▪ Denial of access to housing (HRC/Suo./Motu/12/19) An investigation was initiated into the suspension of construction activities of the proposed “Samata Sevana” model village for the Sinhalese minority community in Kokilai in the Mulativu District due to the arbitrary intervention of a politician. ▪ Torture of a female journalist (HRC/ Suo/Motu/19/19) The Commission launched an investigation into the incident of torture inflicted on a female provincial journalist by the Pamunugama Police as disclosed in a newspaper article. The Commission summoned the respondents and recorded statements while also obtaining copies of the 64