HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA - Annual report 2020 RESEARCH AND MONITORING 4.1. Thematic sub-committees 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 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. perspective) Sub-Committee on the Rights of LGBTIQ Persons Sub-Committee on Plantation Workers’ Rights Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture and Custodial Violations Sub-Committee on Gender Sub-Committee on Rights of Elders Sub-Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural rights 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 sub-committee. During 2020, the members of the sub-committees could not meet to discuss thematic issues due to the pandemic. However, individual members assisted the Commission on matters pertaining to the above thematic areas. Accordingly, sub-committee members took part in the meeting held with the Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion, and the Ministry of Labour to discuss interventions in relation to the safety and 61