• The petitioners are challenging the legality of their arrest and  detention under Detention Orders issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the legality of the detention order issued against Convener of Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Wasantha Mudalige and two others under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) were yesterday fixed for support by Supreme Court.  The court was informed that the Attorney General is expecting to file objections against the petitions and thereby the respondent parties were directed to file objections within two weeks.  Ven. Welwewa Siridhamma Thera and Hashan Jeewantha Gunathilake,  undergraduates of the University of Sri Jayawardenepura and University of Kelaniya respectively had also filed petitions challenging their detention under PTA.  

The petitioners are seeking a declaration that the arrest and detention of Mudalige is unlawful.  The petitioners are challenging the legality of their arrest and detention under Detention Orders issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Defence.  The petitioners are further seeking an interim order to produce the detainees before a Magistrate’s Court in terms of the law.   IGP Chandana Wickremaratne, CID Director Kavinda Piyasekera, Director of TID Prasanna Alwis, Attorney General and several others have been named as respondents.  

President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris with M.A. Sumanthiran and Attorney-at-law Manjula Balasooriya appeared for the petitioners.  Deputy Solicitor General Madhawa Tennakoon with Senior State Counsel Shaminda Wickrema appeared for the Attorney General.