The Government of Sri Lanka embarked on this important endeavour of developing a National Action Plan firstly, to respond to a call from our people to take stock of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka which has had a history of colonization and the more recent experience of an armed conflict. Secondly, the National Action Plan is the Government's response to the recommendation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria in 1993. This National Action Plan is the result of a Government and people deciding to take concrete action to bring about positive change. In developing the Action Plan, the Government assessed the measures in place to protect and promote human rights, identified areas that need improvement and have committed ourselves to improving the protection and promotion of human rights. This Action Plan is the product of many months of consultation and co-operation involving both government and civil society. The Action Plan that focuses on the promotion and protection of human rights, and firmly believes that the process of developing the plan is as important as the outcome. This document not only provides a detailed policy and legislative programme to realize the fundamental rights and freedoms provided for in the Constitution, but also looks to expand these rights and freedoms. While recognizing that human rights are universal, indivisible, and interdependent eight priority areas were identified through the stocktaking exercise: two general areas on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and six specialized areas looking at Prevention of Torture, Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP's), Protection of Labour Rights, Rights of Children, Rights of Women and Rights of Migrant Workers. Using these areas of focus as an organization tool eight issue papers were developed which were discussed at eight consultations, which included all relevant government agencies and relevant civil society representation.