By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana and Darshana Sanjeewa Balasooriya   

A freelance journalist cum ‘GotaGoGama’ activist Anthony Veranga Pushpika who was returning by bus after taking part in a demonstration outside Fort Railway Station last afternoon had been forcibly taken away by an unidentified group in a blue colour jeep, which was subsequently learned after hours that he was arrested by the Police Colombo South Divisional  Crime Detective Bureau (DCDB).   

Sri Lanka Young Journalists Association said the person who had formerly worked at the ‘Anidda’ newspaper had got into a bus from the Fort Railway Station to go to the education unions’ office ‘Gurumedura’ on Sir Chithampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha, when he was nabbed.   

Veranga Pushpika had also been active as a member of the Inter University Students Federation and also the former President of the Ruhunu Maha Shishya Sangamaya.   

According to an eyewitness, Veranga had got into the bus from the Fort Railway Station around 1.30pm after taking part in a protest campaign organised by the trade union collective against the present suppression by the government.   The bus could move only about 50 yards when a dark blue jeep had overtaken it and had blocked the bus. Six persons in civils had rushed out of the vehicle and had entered the bus. They had then taken Veranga by force and when an associate of the latter who was in the same bus after attending the demonstration had asked the group where they were taking him, the group had responded that he was arrested over some weapons.  The incident has been reported to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and the HRCSL had inquired from the police about such arrest to learn that the person had been taken into custody by the Colombo South Divisional Crime Detective Bureau (DCDB).   

This arrest comes following the arrest of GGG activist Daniz Ali from a Dubai bound flight at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Tuesday evening. However, when contacted the OIC of the Colombo South Division DCDB said there was no truth of him being abducted. He said the police had taken him into custody and he will be produced in Court by the Fort Police.   The OIC further said that Veranga has been arrested in connection with causing damages to public property during a recent protest near Police Headquarters.