HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA - Annual report 2020
4.4.3.
Other monitoring activities:
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
The Commission conducted an assessment of the disruption to education of
school children school children who are confined to homea due to closure of
schools in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially of the children sitting
for the Grade 5 scholarship examination, the Ordinary Level examination,
and Advanced Level examination. A review of the online teaching activities
introduced by the private sector as a response to this issue also formed part
of this assessment. The Research and Monitoring Unit conducted this
assessment with the support of the regional offices.
Monitoring of news reports
The Commission also continued to monitor news reports in the electronic
and print media with regard to the violation of human rights falling within
the purview of the Regional and sub-Offices. This activity assists the
Commission in making suo motu interventions as well as following-up on the
progress of remedial action by respondent parties.
Interventions requiring further monitoring
A series of discussions were conducted with relevant authorities and
affected parties and interventions made in matters which in the opinion of
the Commission required intervention and continuous monitoring. The
following are selected examples:
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A discussion on possible interventions in relation to the safety and
wellbeing of Sri Lankan migrant workers in destination countries
and foreign migrant workers currently employed in Sri Lanka during
the COVID-19 pandemic was held with the Foreign Ministry, Ministry
of Foreign Employment Promotion, and the Ministry of Labour in
attendance.
-
Pursuant to a complaint received from a civil society organization
regarding the detention of a Pakistani national who is an asylumseeker registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for
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