Do not extend D/O against Wasantha & Siridhamma Thero - HRCSL

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has recommended not to extend the detention order issued against Wasantha Mudalige and Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma.

The HRCSL said that any futher investigations that the police may need to conduct can be carried out successfully and expeditiously without the continued detention of these persons.

It asserts that the arrest, detention, and continued incarceration of the convener of the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF), Wasantha Mudalige, and the convener of the Inter University Bhikku Federation (IUBF), Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma, from the 1 8th Augusl2022 to this date, for a period of 90 days, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) No.48 of 1979 as amended, is unreasonable and without justification.

The HRCSL deems the investigations conducted in to the 'unlawful activity' purported to have been done by these detainees under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) No.4B of 1979 as amended to be unreasonable, unfair, vexatious and wholly without justification, and asserts that the detainees in question can be successfully prosecuted under general law.

The HRCSL reiterates that the offence of terrorism can be dealt with under general law, and reaffirms its commitment to reformulating a definition for 'terrorism' facilitate this: "Any person by the use of threat or use of force and violence by unlawfully targeting the civilian population or a segment of the civilian population with the intent to spread fear thereof in furtherance of a political, ideological, or religious cause commits terrorism."

The continued incarceration and harassment of the detainees is a breach of their fundamental rights under Article l1 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, said the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, the HRCSL is of the opinion that the treatment and harassment of these detainees are made all the more unacceptable by the fact that it is a deterrent to the public at large to exercise their freedom of expression and peaceful assembly enshrined inArticle 1a(l)(a) and (b) of the Constitution.

Therefore, the HRCSL makes the recommendation to not extend the detention order issued against Wasantha Mudalige and Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma, as any fuither investigations that the police may need to conduct can be carried out successfully and expeditiously without the continued detention of these persons.