The Right to Information Commission (RTI), which heard an appeal by journalists requesting information about the expiry dates of tear gas canisters used by police in recent protests, warned the Police Chief yesterday that he would be summoned if he did not provide correct data within ten days.
The RTI Commission heard the case for the second time yesterday. Following an appeal filed by independent journalist Tharindu Jayawardena against the Police Department for failing to provide information about the expiration dates of tear gas canisters. These canisters were used to defuse the Galle Face Aragalaya’s recent protest campaigns.
During the last hearing, the Commission, comprised of three commissioners, retired Judge Rohini Walgama, Attorneys Kishali Pinto Jayawardena and Jagath Liyanarachchi. They questioned the police reasons for not providing the requested information by the journalist due to concerns about life risks and personal independence.
Journalist Tharindu Jayawardena said that he had made several RTI applications to the Police Department in recent months. However, the requested aforementioned details had no response.
Representatives from the Police Field Force Headquarters, Police Supplies Division, and Police Legal Division testified before the commission. They say that they do not have such information because such data is typically destroyed every five years.
The police, on the other hand, agreed to provide whatever information they could about the procurement, purchasing, and expiration dates of the tear gas canisters at the next hearing, which was scheduled for yesterday.
However, when the information was presented to the commission yesterday, Journalist Jayawardena pointed out that it was inaccurate and incomplete, and he requested that the commission notify the police to provide the correct information.
When the commission inquired about this, police representatives stated that full details must be obtained from the various divisions because they are not kept in one location.
In response, the commission questioned whether the Police Chief IGP should be recognised as the overall head if representatives from the various divisions refused to comply with the commission’s orders.
The police then agreed to provide the full details of the RTI application within ten days, and the next hearing was set for October 6th.
The hearing was attended by the Acting Director of Police Supplies Division, the Commandant of Police Field Force Headquarters, and an Inspector from the Police Legal Division, as well as attorneys Suren Perera and Manushika Cooray on behalf of Journalist Tharindu Jayawardena.