UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ahmed Shaheed, commenced his official visit to Sri Lanka on August 15, reports Colombo Page. The Special Rapporteur is undertaking this visit in response to the standing invitation extended to all thematic UN special procedures mandate holders by Sri Lanka in 2015. This is the 10th such visit by a special procedures mandate holder to the country in the past four years. The Special Rapporteur is expected to visit several areas in the Northern, Eastern, North Western and Central Provinces during his visit. He will also meet with a cross section of religious leaders, representatives of the civil society, as well as with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. At the conclusion of the visit, a de-briefing for Government stakeholders will be held on August 26. The Special Rapporteur will submit his Report on the country visit to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2020.