This third workshop concludes the successful series of workshops held with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) to discuss Standard Operating Procedures.
On 17 December 2025, the Max Planck Foundation held a workshop to discuss an objective grading system for institutions in which persons are deprived of liberty. The workshop took place in Colombo, with participants also attending online, and brought together over 25 HRCSL staff from both the headquarters and regional offices. The prior workshop discussed the Standard Operating Procedure about HRCSL’s mandate as Sri Lanka’s National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This workshop built upon the previous workshop with a specific focus on developing an objective grading system for institutions in which persons are deprived of liberty.
The workshop began with presentations from staff of the Foundation who highlighted key considerations when creating a grading system and drew upon the frameworks and experiences of other NPMs. The aim and audience of the HRCSL’s grading system were discussed and decided upon. There was further discussion about important factors when monitoring detention in Sri Lanka, including aspects of healthcare, and the presentation of the results or grades from the inspections.
Draft checklists for inspections of police cells and prisons that were circulated prior to the workshop provided a strong foundation from which to discuss a grading system for the Sri Lankan NPM. Discussions with HRCSL staff, including NPM staff and staff in regional offices, led by Commissioner Dr Gehan Gunatilleke, the HRCSL Director of Research and Monitoring, and Foundation staff, led to refinement of the draft grading system, including ensuring objective sources of data, the addition of important protective factors to inspect, and clarifying the scoring system. The checklists will now be trailed during inspections.
This workshop concludes the support of the HRCSL under the German Federal Foreign Office-funded project, ‘Consolidating the Rule of Law in Sri Lanka: Strengthening the Resilience of Democratic Institutions to Promote Stability in the Face of Crises.’
The Foundation looks forward to continuing to work with and support the HRCSL during future projects.