The Supreme Court yesterday (12) ruled that the arrest and detention of former Western Province Governor Azath Salley under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was unlawful.
The SC ordered that compensation amounting to Rs. 75,000 be by the respondents, including former Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara and the CID Director
The police took Salley into custody on March 16, 2021 over a controversial statement at a media briefing on March 09, 2021.
He was accused of causing disharmony among ethnic communities.
The CID arrested him in terms of the provisions of the PTA and the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR) Act.
The arrest was made following complaints lodged by the then MPs Mohamed Muzammil, Nimal Piyatissa, and Gamini Waleboda.
Earlier, Salley was acquitted of all charges filed against him in the Colombo High Court on Dec 2 2021, after nearly nine months in detention.
