HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA, Annual Report 2019 Sri Lanka’s State obligations under the international Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities. As preparations for the Presidential Election in November got under way, the Commission wrote to the Elections Commission to ensure an election that ‘leaves no voter behind’. Guidelines were issued to the Police and public administration on the need for officials to function impartially during election time. The overall complaints received by the Commission in 2019 once again pointed to custodial violations as the most problematic human rights issue facing the public . Complaints of torture remained more or less the same as in previous years, proving that eliminating the deeply entrenched practice in law enforcement requires strong political will and sustained, long term interventions. The total number of complaints reflected a significant increase from the previous year due mainly to the post- April 21 terror attack developments which unfortunately took a communal turn. Throughout the year efforts at staff capacity building and encouraging use of ICT to support the work of the Commission continued. The Commission pursued its policy of empowering Regional Offices as they continued to provide a valuable service at the provincial level working closely with regional civil society organizations. As in previous years, many efforts of the Commission were stymied by bureaucratic delays and anachronistic government administrative and financial regulations. The efficiency of public services is constantly lagging behind for those reasons. Extensive administrative reforms must be seriously considered by relevant authorities if the country is to move forward. All experiences and observations of the Commission point to the growing reliance by the public, especially by the vulnerable segments, on the commitment of the HRCSL to protecting their rights. It is clear that the Commission’s independence and vigilance must be a constant reassuring 6