HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA, Annual Report 2020      to inquire into and investigate, complaints regarding infringements or imminent infringements of fundamental rights, and to provide for resolution by conciliation and mediation; to advise and assists the government in formulating legislation and administrative directives and procedures, in furtherance of, the promotion and protection of fundamental rights; to make recommendations to the Government regarding measures which should be taken to ensure that national laws and administrative practices are in accordance with international human rights norms and standards. to make recommendations to the Government on the need to subscribe or accede to treaties and other international instruments in the field of human rights; and to promote awareness of, and provide education in relation to, human rights. To carry out the statutory functions, the HRCSL is empowered to (as set out in Section 11 of the Act);         investigate, any infringement or imminent infringement of fundamental rights; appoint such number of sub-committees at provincial level, as it considers necessary to exercise such powers of the Commission as may be delegated to them, by the Commission; intervene in any proceedings relating to the infringement or imminent infringement of fundamental rights, pending before any court, with the permission of such court; monitor the welfare of persons detained either by a judicial order or otherwise, by regular inspection of their places of detention, and to make recommendations necessary for improving their conditions of detention; take such steps as it may be directed to take by the Supreme Court, in respect of any matter referred to it by the Supreme Court; undertake research into, and promote awareness of, human rights, by conducting programs, seminars workshops and to disseminate and distribute the results of such research; award in its absolute discretion to an aggrieved person or a person acting on behalf of an aggrieved person, such sum of money as is sufficient to meet the expenses that may have been reasonably incurred by him in making a complaint to the Commission. do all such other things as are necessary or conducive to the discharge of its functions. 18