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Arrest of activist: HRCSL launches investigation

02 Apr 2022

By Skandha Gunasekara  The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) yesterday (2) visited arrested social media activist Anuruddha Bandara, who is currently in custody at the Crime Division of the Modara Police Station, and has begun an investigation into the controversial arrest. It is understood that Bandara’s arrest is linked to a website the suspect is connected to, which carried criticism of the Government and the President. A senior HRCSL official told The Sunday Morning that the Police Department had confirmed Bandara was being detained at the Modara Police Station, and that HRCSL officers had visited him. It is understood that Bandara had been arrested under Article 120 of the Penal Code. According to the HRCSL source, Bandara was to be produced before a magistrate last evening, failing which he may be brought before Court tomorrow (4). When contacted, the Police Media Unit declined to comment on where the suspect was being held, stating that it was not aware of such an arrest. However, when The Sunday Morning contacted the Modara Police Station, they confirmed that the suspect was being held in their detention cell and had been arrested by the Colombo North – Crimes Division. The Modara Police did not comment on Bandara’s charges. The Sunday Morning reliably learned that Bandara’s lawyers were at the Police station last afternoon. A number of media organisations raised concerns when social media reports indicated that Bandara had been abducted by individuals in civilian clothing claiming to be from the Modara Police, but was later revealed to be held by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID). The Sri Lanka Young Journalists’ Association wrote to the HRCSL yesterday requesting it to investigate the arrest.   


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