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IUSF organises birthday celebration for Convenor

19 Sep 2022

By Buddhika Samaraweera   A group of Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) and other civil activists had planned to celebrate the birthday of IUSF Convener Wasantha Mudalige, who was arrested during a protest held in Colombo in August and is currently detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA), near the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) in Colombo. Speaking to The Morning last evening, an IUSF activist said that a special programme had been planned to be held near the TID in Colombo to commemorate the completion of one month of Mudalige’s arrest, and celebrate his birthday which fell yesterday. He said that a group of IUSF activists and representatives from several other civil organisations were to attend the event, which was scheduled to commence at 8 p.m. yesterday. During the programme, the IUSF activist said that it had been planned to hold a massive poster of Mudalige, and to cut a cake celebrating the latter's birthday. He said that the event had been planned to be held near the TID in protest of the detention of Mudalige and two other IUSF activists under the PTA. The IUSF had organised a massive protest in Colombo on 18 August against President Wickremesinghe and the Government. During that protest, a total of 16 university students were arrested, and then released on bail after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. However, IUSF Convener Mudalige and two other activists – Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma Thera and Hashan Jeewantha – are currently being interrogated by the CID on a 90-day detention order signed by Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Defence. Several parties including civil and social activists, political parties, and Vedda Chief Uruwarige Wannila Aththo have expressed their displeasure over the detention of Mudalige and others under the PTA. Speaking to The Morning last week, the Vedda Chief said that although it was fair enough for the relevant agencies to record a statement or something from Mudalige and other activists if needed, it was not at all fair for them to be detained and questioned for months. Therefore, he said, he hopes to meet Wickremesinghe and make a request to release Mudalige and other IUSF activists who have been arrested in an unfair manner.  


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