Message of the Chairman
It gives me great pleasure to issue a message on the occasion of
publication of the activities of the Human Rights Commission of Sri
Lanka in the Daily News newspaper.
As the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka I thank
the Lake House for giving this opportunity to the Commission.
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has performed a great deal
of work in relation to protection and promotion of human rights in the
country during the past ten years. Even though the Human Rights
Commission has done a considerable amount of work in the field of human
rights, it is not published much. Hence, this will be a good opportunity
to make people aware of the activities of the Human Rights Commission.
We will use this page to make people aware of various issues on human
rights.
Although there are many constraints including funds, personnel and
expertise the HRC has been involved in numerous projects, activities
which uplifted the human rights situation of the country.
I’m indeed proud of the work that has been carried out by my staff
during the past ten years. I am also grateful to the board of
Commissioners, as well as the donors who have been supportive of the
work carried out by the HRC.
Justice S. ANANDACOOMARASWAMY,
Chairman, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.
Awareness Programme for Police officers
THE Education and Special Programmes Division of Human Rights
Commission of Sri Lanka conducted an awareness programme for Sub
Inspectors of Police at the Police In-service Training Centre, Gampaha.
Mr. Nimal G. Punchihewa, Additional aSecretary (Legal), Ms. Thilani
Rajapakse, Director, Monitoring and Review, Ms. Dileepa Weerawickrama,
Legal Officer and Mr. K.K. Villavarajan, Education Officer participated
this programme.
In this programme following topics were discussed by the resource
persons. History of Human Rights, Fundamental Rights, Emergency
Regulation, Prevention of Terrorism Act and Culpable Homicide and
Murder.
Summary paper on Training of Attorneys-at-Law to Work as Volunteers
With the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka’s (HRCSL) mandate to
take measures that are necessary or conducive to the discharge of the
Commission’s functions, the HRCSL took the initiative in training
Attorneys-at-Law to work as volunteers on issues relating to migrant
workers.
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HRCSL Additional Secretary (Legal) Nimal Punchihewa. |
This will be one of the steps the Commission has taken to safeguard
rights of migrant workers, as to in the past the HRCSL has taken the
initiative to research into the voting rights of migrant workers and
submit its finding to the relevant Ministry concern way back in 2001,
which followed by a research on rights of women migrant workers in year
2005.
The training programme will be conducted in Sinhala and Tamil
languages and participants will be selected from NGOs, government or
other organizations those who are already working as Lawyers, or who are
to become Attorneys-at-Law (who are final year students of the Faculty
of Law/Law College).
We are to select either 20 or 40 each (depending the agreement of the
Donors), from Colombo and other areas where migrations are more.
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Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice S.
Anandacoomaraswamy, Commissioner Justice D. Jasyawickrama,
Commissioner Ms. N. D. Abeywardena, Commissioner M.T.M.
Bafiq, Commissioner Mahanama Tilakaratane and HRCSL
Secretary D.J.B. de Silva. Pictures by Palitha Gunasena |
The HRCSL has identified topics for agenda (see Attachment). Also
have formulated the structure for the training manual which include case
studies, group and other activities as well.
The programme will be conducted for three days, first two days giving
a thorough training on the topics that are provided in the agenda, and
providing exercises for the participants to anticipate prior to the next
session.
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HRCSL Directors Ms. Thilani Rajapakse (Monitoring and
Review), Ms. Shirani Rajapakse (Education and Special
Programmes) and Ms. Samanthi Jayamanne (Inquiries and
Investigations). |
The follow up programme will be conducted after one month from the
training, and there problems and bottle-necks identified by the
participants will be discussed by a panel of the trainers who were
involved (alteration as necessitates).
The HRCSL’s suggestion is that the progress should be evaluated in a
manner where the participants will not feel that they are being
monitored by the Commission, but who have contributed for the well-being
of the migrant worker.
Since this is only a brief description of the activities to be
conducted a thorough background report on the plans of the HRCSL with
the support of the American Solidarity Centre and other stakeholders
will be provided in a latter date.
Shirani RAJAPAKSE
Legal officer, Education & Special programmes, HRCSL |
