HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA, Annual Report 2019 In 2016 HRCSL appointed 9 sub-committees on specific thematic issues. The Sub-Committees were expected to review legislation, policies, and official practices pertaining to each theme in order to make recommendations to the Commission on the policy interventions to be made to the Government of Sri Lanka pursuant to its mandate under section 10 of HRCSL Act No 21 of 1996. Further, the Sub-Committees were expected to advise the Commission on required policy and practical interventions on respective issues. The subcommittees are; 1. Sub-Committee on Persons with Disabilities 2. Sub-Committee on Education Policy (from a human rights perspective) 3. Sub-Committee on the Rights of LGBTIQ Persons 4. Sub-Committee on Plantation Workers’ Rights 5. Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture and Custodial Violations 6. Sub-Committee on Gender 7. Sub-Committee on Rights of Elders 8. Sub-Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural rights 9. Sub-Committee on Migrant Workers’ Rights The membership of the sub-committees comprises experts and civil society activists. Each Committee is chaired by one or more Commissioners while HRCSL staff members act as secretaries to each subcommittee. During 2019, the sub-committee on persons with disabilities agreed upon criteria for the membership of the sub-committee and decided to increase the number of members to ensure a quorum of 4 members are present for each meeting. It also resolved to follow-up on its recommendations formulated upon reviewing the draft legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities with the Ministry of Social Empowerment & Welfare as it came to light that the Ministry has finalized the Bill without considering the recommendations of the HRCSL which the Ministry claimed it did not receive. 67