A group of Inter-University Students' Federation (IUSF) members and civil activists yesterday (30). handed over nearly 12,000 affidavits signed by people across the country requesting the release of IUSF Convenor Wasantha Mudalige, who is currently in remand custody under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA), to the Attorney General's (AG) Department.
Speaking to the media yesterday, Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Bopage said: “We are not in a position to influence the Court, but, with these nearly 12,000 affidavits, we are giving a message to the AG's Department. The AG's Department represents the public. So, we are showing what the public's opinion is through these affidavits. We request the AG, President's Counsel Sanjay Rajaratnam to work with a backbone, and to give the necessary decision to grant Mudalige bail. If a million affidavits are required for that, we are ready to provide that number as well.”
He also said that Mudalige is being detained under the PTA because he was a part of the “aragalaya” (the people' struggle which was a public protest movement which demanded the resignation of then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government in 2022) that was carried out with the leadership of many parties and the participation of the public. He said that today, some people have forgotten it, but that if it was not for the “aragalaya”, the country would have been completely destroyed. He further said that they will continue to stand up against the fact that Mudalige was selected from among the thousands who joined the “aragalaya” and is being detained continuously.
Mudalige, who was in remand custody under the PTA and was produced before Colombo Magistrate Prasanna Alwis on 17 January, was ordered to be further remanded until today (31). The Magistrate had also ordered both parties, the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) and Mudalige to make written submissions on 24 January.
The IUSF had organised a massive protest in Colombo on 18 August 2022, against President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Government, and the Police which obstructed the said protest, had arrested several IUSF activists including Mudalige. A total of 16 university students who were among the arrestees were released on bail after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on 19 August, while Mudalige, Inter-University Bhikkhus' Federation Convenor Ven Galwewa Siridhamma Thera, and IUSF activist Hashan Jeewantha were placed in TID detention under the PTA. Both Siridhamma Thera and Jeewantha were later enlarged on bail, but Mudalige is still in remand custody.