FR against Mudalige's detention filed with Supreme Court

COLOMBO (News 1st); A Fundamental Rights application was filed with the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on Friday challenging the Detention Order on Wasantha Mudalige, the Convener of the Inter-University Student's Federation.

The FR application filed by Attorney-at-Law Ravihara Pinnaduwage also seeks a ruling that states the arrest & detention of Wasantha Mudalige is illegal.

The Inspector General of Police, the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Director of the Terrorist Investigations Division, the Defense Secretary, and the Attorney General among others were named as respondents in the application.

The petition states that Wasantha Mudalige was arrested by the respondents on the 18th of August on no justifiable grounds, and is being detained on the order given by Defence Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The counsel who filed the petition noted that Wasantha Mudalige is being detained at a Detention Center in Tangalle, and it has become a challenge for counsel to maintain contact with him.

The counsel who filed the petition also noted that it is a challenge to seek instructions from his client.

The Fundamental Rights Application notes that the arrest is in violation of the law, and Wasantha Mudalige has not been produced to a Magistrate to date.

Counsel for the petitioner notes that there is no reasonable ground to arrest his client based on the Prevention of Terrorism Act and to further detain him under the PTA.

Attorney-at-Law Ravihara Pinnaduwage requests the Supreme Court to rule that his clients' Fundamental Rights have been violated following the illegal arrest and detention.

The petition also requests an order to produce Wasantha Mudalige to the nearest Magistrate and also seeks an order on the respondents permitting counsel to meet with their client.

The petition in addition requests for Wasantha Mudalige to be produced to a Judicial Medical Officer immediately, for a report to be called for, and for an investigation to be carried out by calling for all documents on the arrest and detention.