unjust discrimination by government agencies on the grounds of race, religion, sex, political opinion, or place of birth. The Coinmission language, caste. was not empowered to investigate diecrimination by a private entity. The disparity in the number of women admitted to university reflected the fact that in the social context of Sri Lanka, fewer women than men sought employment. Universal adult enfranchisement since 1931 had ensured the free and unhindered participation of women in the country’s political institutions, as was evidenced by the number of women occupying government posts. According and citizenship, to the Constitution, all persons, regardless of nationality were equal before the law and were entitled to equal protection before the law, except in respect of freedom of movement and extradition rules. Private companies were beyond the dictates of the Government. Responsibility for the treatment of Sri Lankan women abroad rested with the receiving State, Prisoners were not allowed to vote for hiotorical reasons predating the constitution. 4~4. With reference to that issue, members of the Committee wished to know on 110~ many occasions since the consideration of the initial report the courts had ordered the death penalty and how often such sentences had been carried out: what the rules and regulations were governing the use of firearms by the police and security forces; whether there had been any t .1olations of those rules and regulations and, if so, what measures had been taken to prevent their recurrence: whether the Government was aware of reports alleging that extrajudicial executions had been carried out and, if SO, whether such reports bad been investigated: what had been the results to date of the deliberations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances established in January 1991: what were the composition, powers and functions of the Organization for the Protection of HumanRight6 through Law Enforcement Agencies and what bad been the results of its activities; whether the Government had considered abolishing the death penalty for abetting suicide) and why the State had been relieved from the obligation to investigate all deaths resulting from violence, Members also requested additional information concerning Rmergency Regulation6 relating to post mortem6 and inquests and regarding progress in reducing infant mortality during the period Under review. 465. In reply, the r6pr666nkatiVe said that although it remained on the statutes and was mandatory for offence6 such a6 murder , treason and ab6tment of suicide, no death sentence had been carried out since 1977. All 6UCb sentences since that time had been commuted by the President to life imprisonment. Police officers did not normally carry firearms; on those occasions when they did, they were required to use a minimum of force. use of excessive force was followed by disciplinary action or a criminal trial. The Government wa6 vigilant to enblure that no State agency should resort to extrajudicial executions, but a few such case6 were under investigation. The Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances had received 15 Complaints that individuals had been removed by unknown persons or that the whereabouts of those removed were unknown. Public hearings were expected to begin as soon as the investigations had been concluded, The main objective oZ the Orgnnization for the Protection of Human Rights through Law Enforcement Agencies was to promote and coordinate the work of law enforcement official6 and agencies in their recognition of and respect for human rights. Infant mortality had decreased from 22.6 per 1,000 live births in 1986 to -ill-