Following the discussions held on 22.02.2013 the Secretary General informed the Chairman of the Commission, that technical assistance could be provided to the Commission in the following areas to expand its independence and authority in terms of his statement issued, on 13.02.2013 on the Agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka. The areas wereTo provide education and trainings to the staff of the Commission. To expand training opportunities granted to the Police on human rights obligations. Increasing trainings to journalists on human rights reporting. To build capacities of the intervention to national reconciliation activities. Expand capacities of investigations on infringement of human rights violations. In addition the Secretary General informed that the Head of the Human Rights Unit of the Commonwealth wished to meet the members of the Commission and the Senior Management of the Commission in March in order to discuss future plans. As a result, a three – day workshop was held from 02-04 July in Colombo on conducting a national inquiry as a means to build up capacities of the staff of the Commission. The theme of the workshop  was  ‘Holding  National   Inquiries  According  to   International  Standards’.  Head  of   the Human Rights Unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat as well as the Human Rights officer Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and several local experts in the field of human rights and Advocate John Walter, Ombudsman of the National Human Rights Institute, Nambia participated in the event as resource persons. The objective of the workshop was to build up capacities of the staff in relation to holding of a national inquiry. The second workshop held in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat and with their  technical  assistance  was  on  the  ‘Role  of  the  Human  Rights  Commission  in  relation  to   national   reconciliation   efforts’.   This   two   – day workshop was held for the staff of the Commission on 26 – 27 September in Vavunia. The important aspect of this workshop was the participation of NGO activists in the area. Officers of the Commonwealth Human Rights Unit and Commissioners of the HRC attended the workshop as resource persons. Mr. 44