Chairman of Information Technology Society of Sri Lanka (ITSSL) Yasiru Kuruwitage has filed a Fundamental Rights petition in Supreme Court challenging his arrest and detention for allegedly sharing an opinion regarding a Cyber Attack on the Presidential Secretariat website last year.

 

The Petitioner said he was arrested for holding a particular opinion in relation to certain incidents of cyberattacks on “gov.lk” websites including that the of the Presidential Secretariat.

 

The Petitioner said the ITSSL had actively participated in the national dialogue for the introduction of ‘Privacy Laws’ to the country. He said the ITSSL had stressed the need for privacy laws in the interest of the citizens to the media and other forums on several occasions.

 

The Petitioner further states that all statements published on behalf of the ITSSL has been done with the objective of the larger public interest to prevent potential cyber attacks on digital infrastructure both in the government and private sector.

 

The petitioner states that he was arrested on 07th of June 2021 without disclosing reasons for the arrest contrary to the Article 13(1) of the Constitution. He further alleged that his right to freedom of thought have been infringed by respondents.

 

He alleged that the CID failed to produce him before the Magistrate without undue delay. He further alleged that the prosecution made a wrongful application to remand the Petitioner until the conclusion of the purported investigations despite admittedly the charges leveled may not ex-facie be sustainable.

 

He further alleged that he was held in remand custody even after bail being granted, on the purported necessity of a negative PCR test.

 

The Petitioner states that his mobile phone and laptop computer have been handed over to the custody of Court and he was unable to obtain the release of these equipment indefinitely.

 

The Petitioner cited IGP Chandana Wickramaratne, Director General of Health Services, OIC in the Digital and Forensic Unit of CID and Attorney General as respondents. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)