The intention of filing a revision application in respect of the convener of the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF), Wasantha Mudalige, was not to remand him but to rectify the legal errors, the Attorney General informed the Colombo High Court today.
Deputy Solicitor General Dilan Ratnayake, appearing for the Attorney General, made these remarks when the revision application filed challenging the legality of the order issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate to release Wasantha Mudalige from a case filed for allegedly committing offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was called before the Colombo High Court.
The Attorney General maintained that the Magistrate’s Court has no jurisdiction to release an individual who had been arrested under the provisions of PTA. The Attorney General further said the Magistrate’s Court had released the suspect prior to the Attorney General’s advice being received.
Wasantha Mudalige was present before the court, and the Attorney General was directed to file his written submissions on June 1.
Through this revision application, the Attorney General is seeking an order to set aside the order dated January 31, 2023, delivered by the Colombo Chief Magistrate to release Wasantha Mudalige from PTA charges.
On January 31, Wasantha Mudalige was ordered to be released from the case after spending five months in incarceration.
Wasantha Mudalige was arrested on August 18, 2022, under the PTA for 90 days under a Detention Order issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Defence.
