Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ruled that the arrest of a man suspected of links to the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings was unlawful, ordering compensation to be paid by both the state and a police officer.
The petitioner, Mohamed Milhan, had been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) following the attacks that killed more than 260 people across the country. The court, however, found that his fundamental rights had been violated during the arrest process.
Court’s Observations
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Arjuna Obeyesekere, Priyantha Fernando, and Sobhitha Rajakaruna observed that authorities failed to present sufficient evidence to justify the arrest.
Milhan, a resident of Aluthgama, argued that police had not informed him of the reasons for his detention, which is a mandatory legal requirement even under anti-terrorism legislation.
Compensation Ordered
The Supreme Court ordered compensation to be paid as follows:
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Rs. 30,000 to be paid personally by a Sub-Inspector of the Mount Lavinia Police
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Rs. 20,000 to be paid by the state
Scrutiny of the PTA
The ruling represents another instance in which Sri Lanka’s judiciary has scrutinized the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The law has long faced criticism from human rights groups for permitting extended detention without clear evidence or formal charges.
The judgment underscores the court’s emphasis on safeguarding fundamental rights even in cases related to national security.
