HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA - Annual report 2020 4.4.2. Parliamentary Elections- 2020  Complaints Unit for the Parliamentary Elections- 2020 A Complaint-receiving unit was established by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to receive complaints of allegations of human rights violations by government officials relating to the Parliamentary Elections in 2020. In addition to written complaints accepted via post, email, or fax, the Commission also received complaints relating to the elections through its 24-hour hotline.  Request for paid leave for public and private sector employees to cast their votes On 13.07.2020 the Commission wrote separately to the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs, and Board of Investment requesting for paid leave without an impact on the leave balance to be granted to both public and private sector employees (including casual and contract-based employees in public institutions) to cast their votes at the parliamentary election. The Commission recommended that a public notice be issued through newspapers etc. declaring that all employees are granted a holiday to cast their vote, in order to ensure that the citizens sovereign right to vote is protected. This recommendation was copied to the Election Commission.  Recommendations to the Election Commission to ‘leave no voter behind’ The Commission wrote to the chairperson of the Election Commission providing recommendations to ensure that the parliamentary election of 2020 was a “Leave No Voter Behind” election especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It emphasized the importance of issuing clear health guidelines to the officials on election related duties and the voters as there may be some hesitancy in exercising their right to franchise on the part of the general public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission underscored the responsibility of the state to provide for special allowances to guarantee the right to vote of persons with disabilities or with special needs and persons who are geographically isolated. The Commission also 68