• Writes to the HRCSL querying whether summons issued by entire HRCSL membership

Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles, who has sent a letter to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), querying as to whether all of its members had taken a decision to summon him to inquire about the measures taken by the Police to control two protests organised by the Inter-University Students’ Federation last week, said that he would consider making an appearance before the HRCSL if such a collective decision had been made.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Alles, who had been summoned before the HRCSL last morning (13), but had not appeared accordingly, said: "I have written to them asking them to let me know if the HRCSL had made a decision to summon me. If the HRCSL had taken a decision to meet me for a discussion or something, I can consider. I have written to them, and they have not yet responded to it as of today (13) afternoon."

Multiple attempts to contact the HRCSL including its Chairperson, retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Rohini Marasinghe and Media Spokesman, Nihal Chandrasiri proved futile.

In a statement issued by the HRCSL’s Media Spokesman on 9 March, it was stated that Alles had been summoned before the HRCSL at 10 a.m. yesterday, to make an explanation regarding the measures taken by the Police to control the protests which were held near the Colombo and Kelaniya University premises on 7 and 8 March. It added that the HRCSL had decided to conduct an investigation regarding the way in which the Police acted to control the two said protests on 7 and 8 March.

However, Alles, while speaking to The Daily Morning on 12 March said that he would not make an appearance as four out of the five HRCSL members had reportedly said that they had not made a decision to summon him. When contacted by The Daily Morning on 12 March and queried as to whether he would appear before the HRCSL yesterday (13), he said: “No, I do not have to. Four out of five of its members say that they have not met, and nor have they taken any decision to summon me.”

Meanwhile, Justice Marasinghe had issued a statement on the matter on 12 March, which read: “While the HRCSL possesses full power and authority to summon any person residing in Sri Lanka to give evidence and produce documents before it, at this stage, the HRCSL, through its Secretary, merely requested the Minister under whose purview the Police falls, to attend the HRCSL to provide certain clarifications. The HRCSL is optimistic that the discussion with the Minister would help to adopt a mechanism to prevent the violations of fundamental rights in the future and recommend human rights compliant guidelines for crowd control during protests.”