- Acting IUSF Convenor says no plans to meet SLPP or UNP
- Claims AG following Govt. requirements
The Inter-University Students' Federation (IUSF) is to meet with all political parties and groups of the Parliamentary Opposition as part of its programme against what the IUSF claims is the Government’s programme of repression, including the continued detention of IUSF Convenor Wasantha Mudalige under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA).
Speaking to The Morning, Acting IUSF Convenor, Terrance Rodrigo said: “We hope to meet and discuss with a number of political parties and groups of Parliamentarians, and inform the representatives of those parties regarding the Government's programme. However, we do not expect to hold any discussions with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the United National Party (UNP) because these acts of repression are being done by a Government led by those parties. The programme is being implemented. We have requested opportunities for talks with a number of parties including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).”
Noting that the approval of the Attorney General's (AG's) Department is very important for Mudalige's release, he charged that the AG's Department is, however, working according to the needs of the President and the Government. Therefore, he said that the IUSF is currently organising a comprehensive programme together with civil organisations and other parties to force the Government to release Mudalige, and to stop the repressive programme targeting several parties including student movements.
“Although Mudalige has been detained under the PTA for many months, the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) has still not been able to file any charges against him. In spite of that, they recently informed the Court that only 60% of the investigations carried out regarding Mudalige have been completed. The Government including President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Public Security Minister Tiran Alles are trying to detain him for a few more months using various tactics.”
Mudalige, who was in remand custody under the PTA, and was produced before Colombo Additional Magistrate T.N.L. Mahawatte on 13 December, was ordered to be further remanded until 17 January 2023. Both the AG's Department and the TID which appeared before the Court requested that Mudalige be remanded further as the relevant investigations are still being carried out. However, the Additional Magistrate raised concerns regarding the TID's failure to conclude the investigations despite Mudalige's detention for several months and ordered the conclusion of the investigations as soon as possible.