Workshop for Regional organizations Committees It is very important to identify human right related issues in the area in order to strengthen the functions of the Human Rights Commission. The regional office, Batticaloa organized a special workshop to identify such issues, to identify what action the Commission should take to prevent them, contribution of civil societies and public institutes. Members of Rural Development Societies, Members of rural societies for women, public servants, pensioners, police officers, principals, teachers, members of NGOs, religious leaders and media personnel were invited for the workshop. A Commissioner attended the workshop and explained what the Commission expects from regional committees. The DIG of the area had mentioned that they wish to identify crimes committed in the area, and receive information through these committees,. The participants have identified human rights related issues in the area, as follows:1. Loans given by certain institution for people in the area and the difficulty in the repayment. 2. Robberies due to alcohol addiction in youths. 3. Woman engaged in prostitution due to poverty. 4. Authorities not making the committee aware of environmental pollution. 5. Affected lives of children due to migration of their mothers to foreign employment. 6. Delays caused in private bus transportation. 7. Illegal transportation of sands and sea erosion. 8. Transfer of land permits. 9. Politicians changing names of certain roads and objection of the community. 10. Disturbance and accidents caused to the public due to Sunday tuition classes and bicycles of students. 11. Insufficient government sponsorship to pre childhood development institutions. 12. Clearing of forests in Eravur. 13. Public uproar due to an eruption of Buddha statue in a school premises in Oddamavadu. 14. Dearth of GramaNiladharis. 15. Importance of three wheelers to have meters. 16. Introduction of the subject of Information Technology only to certain selected Muslim schools. 17. Unconfidentiality of Police regarding the identification of informator. After discussion how the regional committee and the Commission should act with regard to identified issues and how the two parties should jointly address issues it was decided to adopt the following mechanism; - to continue awareness - to inform municipal councils and PradeshiyaSabhas on environmental issues and the Commission to intervene when they do not act - collect information on the road name changes - to discuss with the Association of private bus owners - to discuss with the Forest department over the clearing forests - to prepare programmes on adverse effect of the user of narcotics 71