HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA, Annual Report 2020
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka were submitted to the Secretary to the
Ministry of Health and the Director-General of Health Services regarding the
Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2170/8 dated 20.04.2020. The focus was
on the final rites of corpses of people who died of coronavirus infection.
A tense situation developed in the Anuradhapura prison on March 21 due to the
fact that there is a high risk of the coronavirus spreading inside the prison. Two
detainees were killed and six others were injured in the unrest, and the Human
Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) intervened immediately. The
Commission recommended to the Commissioner-General of Prisons that prison
inmates be protected from the coronavirus and that isolation facilities in prisons
be made available as soon as possible. It also called on the President to take
immediate action to ensure the safety of prison inmates, taking into account the
health problems caused by the Corona pandemic. The second incident that
occurred inside the prisons this year took place on 28.11.2020 at the Mahara
Prison. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka immediately intervened in
this conflict. In a very short period of time, the Human Rights Commission of Sri
Lanka (HRCSL) deployed a team of officials to the scene of the conflict and
assisted in controlling the situation. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
(HRCSL) has issued recommendations regarding this incident and has made
recommendations for action in four phases, immediate, short-term, mediumterm, and long-term.
In the Covid-19 situation, the Director-General of Government Information was
informed in writing of the importance of the use of sign language in broadcasting
emergency news statements via visual media. The Human Rights Commission
emphasized the need for proper communication of messages to the public
through emergency news to all without discrimination.
During the month of May, when the country was not functioning normally, a
process of reclaiming sand from the deep sea areas based in Mt. Lavinia and
Angulana was reported and, a team of Human Rights Commission officials
visited the area and reported the situation to the Commission accordingly, after
which inquiries were made from the relevant parties.
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has issued guidelines and
regulations to the relevant institutions to ensure that no one misses out on the
2020 Parliamentary Elections. The Elections Commission paid special attention
to a code of conduct proposed by political parties and independent groups
contesting elections. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL)
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