Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe given approval to detain 3 protestors for 90 days

President Ranil Wickremesinghe had yesterday (August 22) given his approval as the Defense Minister to the detention of three Protesters for 90 days to question under the terrorism prevention act. despite the opposition of the western governments and European Union.

Accordingly, the President had given approval to the Police to detain the Convener of the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) Wasantha Mudalige, Hashantha Gunathilake and Venerable Galwela Sirdhamma Thero for 90 days to question. 

The three protestors along with 16 others had been arrested during the Anti-Government Protest march held in Colombo last Friday (August 19) over violating court orders. However, other 16 persons were released on bail later and the above three protesters are being further detained under the orders of the Ministry of Defense.

Meanwhile US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chang has stated in a message posted to her Twitter account that the Sri Lankan government is slowly destroying the country’s democracy by using acts like terrorism prevention act which violates the human rights and requested the government to ensure the freedom of expression of the people.