The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) is yet to make a decision regarding the non-appearance of Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles before it, as per a summons which had been issued seeking clarifications concerning measures taken by the Police to control two protests organised by the Inter-University Students' Federation on 7 and 8 March.

Although he had been summoned before the HRCSL on Monday (13), which the HRCSL later termed to be a mere request, Alles had not made an appearance claiming that the HRCSL had not made a collective decision to summon him.

The Daily Morning yesterday (14) queried HRCSL Media Spokesman, Nihal Chandrasiri as to whether the HRCSL had decided to issue fresh summons to Alles, or initiate any action regarding his non-appearance, to which he replied: “A decision has not been made regarding it.”

In response to a query as to whether the HRCSL had replied to the letter sent by Alles querying as to whether all HRCSL members had taken a decision to summon him, Chandrasiri said that he was not aware of the matter.

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. on Monday, 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.

However, while speaking to The Daily Morning, Alles 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. Alles had also sent a letter to the HRCSL through which he had sought a clarification on whether the entire HRCSL membership had made a collective decision to summon him before it, against the backdrop of four out of five HRCSL members having said that they were not aware of issuing summons to Alles.

HRCSL Chairperson, retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Rohini Marasinghe had also issued a statement on the matter in which it was stated that while the HRCSL possesses full power and authority to summon any person residing in Sri Lanka to give evidence and produce documents, at this stage however, the HRCSL, through its Secretary, had merely requested Alles to attend the HRCSL to provide certain clarifications.