HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA - Annual report 2020 had not had any pending litigation during the time period from 2009 to 2015 against him and that the appeals made by the petitioner had also not been heard by the respondents. Accordingly, the Commission recommended the petitioner be awarded his promotion and corresponding salary and other allowances, and correct his subsequent promotions upon confirming the recommended in-field promotion list of 2009. It also directed the respondents to take legal action in terms of the Navy Act against the officers who unfairly and intentionally deprived the petitioner of his seniority and promotions and against the parties responsible for the misplacement of documents and those who had intentionally acted in a manner which brings disrepute to the Navy. HRCSL further made a recommendation to the Ministry of Defence to take any necessary steps pertaining to the violation of the Petitioner’s Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Articles 12(1) and 14(1)(g) of the Constitution. 3.3. Suo Motu inquiries The Commission intervened in several issues exercising its own initiative (suo motu) under Section 14 of the Act. Often, issues meriting intervention are identified through media monitoring and individuals or organizations bringing such issues to the attention of the Commission. This activity sees close collaboration between the Investigations and Inquiry Division, the Research and Monitoring Division, and regional offices of the HRCSL. In total, the Commission launched 49 suo motu inquiries into different incidents during 2020 (for a full list of suo motu inquiries see appendix 3).  Refusal admission to a public school on the basis of religion (HRC/SUO/MOTU/01/20) HRCSL initiated an investigation pursuant to a newspaper article regarding the refusal to admit a child to a national school despite obtaining the requisite marks at the Grade 5 scholarship examination due to his father being a Hindu. The Secretary to the Department of Education was directed to take necessary administrative action against the violators and to submit a report to the Commission detailing the action taken. 55