HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA, Annual Report 2018 witnessed a drop in the number of overall complaints to the Commission. There were also no complaints of extra-judicial executions or of enforced disappearances during the year. In contrast was the persistent pattern of custodial violations, including police torture, which did not see an abatement despite various interventions by the Commission. In this backdrop the anti-Muslim riots that took place in Theldeniya and Digana in the Kandy District in March were of deep concern to the Commission. The riots followed anti-Muslim violence in Gintota and Ampara a few months previously. The growing ethnic and religious divide in the country, constantly manifesting itself in the form of hate speech and divisive political rhetoric, nearly a decade after the three decade long civil war continued to cast a pall over the promise of further improvement of the human rights situation in the country. The Commission immediately intervened to provide protection to the survivors of the violence; communicated its concern to the President regarding the need to prevent the growing spate of hate speech and crimes; monitored action taken by the authorities, particularly by the police before, during and after the violence; and conducted a four day inquiry into the incident with the participation of survivors, relevant authorities and civil society. The Commission also prioritized the facilitation of dialogue between the Muslim and Sinhala communities in the affected areas through town hall meetings and subsequently through activities with youth groups. Despite setbacks, the Commission forged ahead with its internal restructuring program undertaken with the objective of improving its investigations and inquiries process. The reforms paid dividends with a greater number of files being disposed of; 94 recommendations being issued (almost three times the number issued in 2015); an active appeals process commencing operation; and strengthened follow up on implementation of recommendations. The Commission also launched 31 suo motu (on its own initiative) investigations during the year on issues 4