• Counsel raises concerns over detention at Tangalle
• Security Forces to interrogate detainees over alleged violent coup

BY P. Waravita Legal counsel for Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Convenor Wasantha Mudalige, Kelaniya University student activist Hashan Jeewantha, and Inter-University Bhikkhu Federation (IUBF) Convenor Galwewa Siridhamma Thera will file a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition in the Supreme Court (SC) tomorrow (25) regarding their detention. Speaking to The Morning yesterday (23), Attorney-At-Law Nuwan Bopage, appearing for the three activists, said that a FR petition will be filed tomorrow regarding their detention under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 48 of 1979 as amended (PTA). “I have been informed that they are currently being detained at the Terrorism Investigation Department detention centre at Tangalle and that visitation rights for their relatives will be granted,” he said. Bopage had also requested to be allowed to visit the activists. “There is no proof at all that they were involved in any terrorist activities. Holding them under the PTA is a violation of their human rights. Secondly, when there are enough and more detention centres in Colombo, they are taken to Tangalle to inconvenience us lawyers and their relatives,” Bopage said while speaking to the media. The three activists were arrested on 18 August evening at a protest held by the IUSF in Colombo, which urged the Government to release those who were arrested for being a part of the “aragalaya” (struggle). They were initially held under a 72-hour detention order and are now being held under a 90-day detention order, which was approved by the Defence Ministry on Monday (22). The detention of the activists under the PTA has been met with serious criticism and concerns, both from within the country and internationally, including concerns raised by the US Embassy to Sri Lanka, the European Union Delegation to Sri Lanka, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL). However, addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing held to announce its decisions yesterday, Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Bandula Gunawardana said that the Security Forces have informed that they need to conduct lengthier investigations into certain individuals including questioning them on suspicions about a conspiracy to violently overthrow a democratically elected Government. “On Monday (22), the Defence Minister explained this to the Cabinet of Ministers. He explained that inside the country, according to the Constitution, holding rallies, picketing and protesting peacefully can be done. But, in this current situation, in a move that has not been seen before in Sri Lankan history, there has been large-scale violence in the recent past. The Security Forces have said that they need to investigate this conspiracy to threaten public officials, Local Government officials, democratically elected leaders, and businessmen, to overthrow a democratically elected Government through violence. They have said that they need more than 24 hours to question some individuals, and since there are lengthy investigations needed into some of them, they will be questioned for a longer period of time,” said Gunawardana. Anti-Government protests were held around the island since the beginning of the year, demanding the resignation of ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The “GotaGoGama” was established at the Galle Face Green, where thousands of people, including the IUSF, protested for over three months. Largely regarded as a peaceful protest movement, the protest site was attacked by supporters of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on 9 May. At the time, the United National Party (UNP), led by current President Ranil Wickremesinghe, condemned this attack. Following the resignation of Rajapaksa, Wickremesinghe was elected the President by Parliament.