The Supreme Court yesterday declared that the fundamental rights of former Western Province Governor Azath Salley had been violated by former Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara and two CID officers through his arrest and detention in 2021.
With Justice Gamini Amarasekara and Justice Mahinda Samayawardhena agreeing, Justice Priyantha Fernando declared that the fundamental rights that have been guaranteed to the petitioner in terms of Articles 12(1),
13(1) and 13(2) of the constitution has been violated by the three CID officers.
Due to the arbitrary acts of the former CID Director Nishantha de Zoysa, Chief Inspector Jayantha Payagala and former Minister Sarath Weerasekara, the State was ordered to pay Rs.75,000 to the petitioner by the Supreme Court.
The petitioner had been arrested and detained for allegedly committing offences come under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA)and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act, in connection with the controversial statement he made on March 9, 2021.
The petitioner stated that he addressed a press conference held on March 9 stating that the affairs of Muslims of Sri Lanka should be governed in accordance with the Muslim law.
The petitioner states that following the media conference relating to this incident, he was arrested by CID under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). He denied the allegations that he involved in the Easter Sunday attack.
Faisz Musthapha, PC with Maithri Gunaratne, PC and Keerthi Tilakaratne, Bishran Iqbal instructed by Tharmarajah Tharmaja appeared for the petitioner.
