Mr. Wasantha Mudalige has been remanded again until today. (December 13, 2022) by Bhanuka – eLanka

Mr. Wasantha Mudalige has been remanded again until today. (December 13, 2022) by Bhanuka – eLanka 

The convener of the Inter-University Student Council Mr. Wasantha Mudalige has been remanded until today (December 13, 2022) until he receives the instructions of the Attorney General yesterday (December 12, 2022). Colombo Additional Magistrate Mrs. Tharanga Mahawatta made this order after presenting Mr. Wasantha Mudalige, who is remanded under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, to the court today.

Mr. Wasantha Mudalige is a well-known student leader as well as a defender of education rights. As the convenor of the Inter-University Students’ Union, a leading force in peaceful protests related to the economic crisis, he also raises broader issues of governance, corruption and accountability.

On August 18, 2022, the convener of the Inter-University Student Council, Wasantha Mudalige, the convener of the Inter-University Bhikshu Council, Galwewa Siridhamma Thero and Hashan Jeevantha, and 17 others were arrested during a peaceful protest in Colombo. While all others arrested have since been granted bail, Wasantha Mudalige and the two other named activists were issued detention orders on 22 August 2022 and held administratively without charge or judicial review of their detention.

According to the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Wasantha Mudalige, Siridhamma Thero and Hashan Jeevantha were detained by the police without access to lawyers for more than 72 hours, violating their rights. On 22 August 2022, they were taken to Tangalle Detention Centre. Controlled by the Sri Lankan Navy and intelligence officers, this detention center is an abandoned prison.

On October 7, 2022, Hashan Jeevantha was released from court due to insufficient evidence.

Mr. Wasantha Mudalige and the venerable Siridhamma Thero, who were detained for 03 months under the Terrorism Prevention Act, were remanded on November 17.

Mr. Wasantha Mudalige and venerable Galvewa Siridhamma Thero were released on bail by the Kaduwela Magistrate Court on 06 December 2022.

The magistrate ordered to release of them on two sureties of one lakh rupees each.

However, Mr. Wasantha Mudalige was detained until December 12, 2022, for further investigation.

Updated

The convener of the Inter-University Student Council Mr. Wasantha Mudalige has been remanded until January 17th, 2023.
This is after he was presented before Colombo Additional Magistrate Tharanga Mahawatta today.
The Magistrate ordered the Terrorist Investigation Division to complete the investigations promptly and report their findings to the court.