HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA - Annual report 2020  In recognition of the need to enhance the capacities of the regional staff of the Commission, who are integral to the efficient functioning of the institution, a series of virtual workshops on Zoom on digital literacy was conducted for the staff of regional offices of the HRCSL. The workshops were held for the staff of the Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Jaffna, and Ampara regional offices during August-September 2020.  A training programme on filing was conducted for the staff of the HRCSL on 30 September 2020 with the resource contribution of an experienced administrative officer of the Commission.  Another workshop on accounting and administrative strategies was held for the staff of the Kandy and Badulla regional offices in March 2020 in order to enhance the capacities of these staff. 7.1.2 International programmes Staff of both the head office and regional offices of the Commission have benefitted from many international training programmes in the past years, which have served to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the Commission. However, due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff could not take part in any international training programmes during the reporting year. 7.2. Employment and vacancies The Commission received final approval for all the cadre positions in the approved SoR from the Department of Management Services (DMS) in May 2018. According to the directions received on the absorption process during last quarter of 2019, in 2020 the Commission began granting promotions under phase I of the new SoR to those officers who became eligible for promotions from 18.09.2017 to 17.09.2020. Salary arrears related to the absorption process was also prepared and finalized during 2020. The scheme of promotion prepared for officers in posts approved as personal to them was submitted to the DMS and is pending approval. In the previous reporting year, the staff of HRCSL was afforded the opportunity to submit appeals in respect of grievances regarding the process 94