Continued use of PTA under new President

12 arrests have been made under the PTA since the swearing in of the new President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Arrests were made as recent as April 8, 2025, where Pillayan was arrested in connection to the abduction of the Vice Chancellor of the Eastern Univeristy of Sri Lanka in 2006, even though Public Security Minister, Ananda Wijepala, states he is arrested in connection to the ongoing investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday Terror Attacks

The writers argue that there should be an immediate moratorium on the use of PTA and the act should be repealed 

By Nilushi Dewapura & Ruki Fernando

At least 12 persons have been reported to have been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) since the swearing in of the new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on September 23, 2024. Ten of the arrests were between October - December 2024 and two were in March - April 2025. These numbers are based on media reports and the actual number may be higher. 

Four were reported to have been arrested in connection with sharing information (not organising) about remembrance of dead cadres of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), an annual event held on the 27th of November of each year, known as “Maveerar Naal”. Seven were reported as arrested in connection with local responses about Israel’s atrocities against Palestine. One was reported to have been arrested in connection with the abduction of then Vice Chancellor of Eastern University. Those arrested were from districts of Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Batticaloa and include at least three Sinhalese, at least two Muslims and at least two Tamils. One is a Dual citizen. Names, district and ethnicity of some were not clear. At least four are reported to have been released on bail. Media reports have not indicated whether others are still detained, discharged or released on bail. 

We strongly believe there should be an immediate moratorium on the use of PTA and that the PTA should be repealed and not reformed or replaced

The arrests were for acts as varied as posting on social media, pasting political stickers and supporting Palestine. Some of the arrests indicated criminalisation of digital and political expression, including those related to Tamil historical memory and criticism of the government in power. The arrests reflect broader concerns regarding the suppression of dissent and the use of legal provisions to silence free speech under the guise of preventing or countering terrorism. Further, some individuals were granted bail within one to four days of arrest, without significant evidence being presented in court, raising questions about the necessity of the arrests and detentions. These cases illustrate a pattern of selective enforcement and the targeting of dissent, often in response to peaceful expression or political affiliations. The last case raises the question whether the executive-driven PTA should be used in relation to abductions and other serious crimes, without using other laws which are more subject to judicial supervision. The detentions suggest a dangerous normalisation of anti-terrorism legislation. 

We strongly believe there should be an immediate moratorium on the use of PTA and that the PTA should be repealed and not reformed or replaced. We note there are around 14 laws in Sri Lanka dealing with terrorism, and if there are gaps in these laws to address contemporary terrorism related challenges, the government should explain the gaps in a transparent way and seek to address these through a genuine and inclusive consultative process to amend the penal code. We also believe those unjustly detained under the PTA and released, some for as long as 16 years, should be provided adequate reparations, including a public apology and compensation and those responsible must be held accountable. 

List of PTA arrests since President Anura Kumara came into power, based on media reports

Manoharan Kajendraroopan, a 35-year-old Tamil father of two from Inuvil West in Chunnakam (Jaffna district), was arrested under the PTA on November 30, 2024, by the Counter Terrorism Investigation Division (CTID) of the police. According to police, his arrest was related to the circulation of photos and videos of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the former leader of the LTTE, on his Facebook account. He was released on bail on December 4, 2024, by the Jaffna Magistrate, who imposed a foreign travel ban and set the bail amount at Rs. 200,000. 

Kelum Harshana, a 28-year-old from Maradana (Colombo district), was arrested on November 30, 2024, by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police for sharing images of Velupillai Prabhakaran on Facebook and for sharing old footage from previous LTTE “Maaveerar Naal” commemorations and disrupting public order. Legal action was initiated under Section 120 of the Penal Code and under Section 27 of the PTA and he was granted bail on December 2, 2024, by the Fort Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Janith Chathuranga, was arrested on November 30 for disseminating information pertaining to the “Maaveerar Naal” commemorations. He is a 45-year-old individual from Kiribathawila, Baddegama (Galle District). His arrest stemmed from the alleged distribution of LTTE-related photos and videos, echoing the basis for other arrests mentioned above. He was held in remand custody and was produced before the Baddegama Magistrate, who had ordered that he be remanded till December 17, 2024. No public record of his release has been noted.

Kelum Harshana Jayasumana, a political and social activist from Boralesgamuwa (Colombo district), was arrested on December 1 by the Computer Crimes Division of the police for sharing old video content of “Maaveerar Naal” celebrations on social media, claiming it was from this year, which had the potential to incite public unrest. Some media reports indicated that he was presented to court under the PTA. However, some media reported that legal action was taken against him only under Section 120 of the Penal Code, and he was granted bail on 4th December 2024 on two surety bails. 

Bilal Mohamed, a Maldivian–Sri Lankan dual citizen and five others, were arrested in October 2024 by CTID. It was reported in the media that Bilal’s and another person’s arrest had been made based on information received on October 7, 2024, from the Indian intelligence over potential attacks in the Arugam Bay area. They had been arrested for planning an attack on Chabad House in Arugam Bay, an establishment run by Israelis, and a hotspot for Israeli tourists. They were reported to be detained under detention orders for 90 days.

Mohamed Rusdi, a 20-year-old youth from Colombo, was reported to have been arrested under the PTA after CCTV footage had shown him pasting a small sticker in a mall that read “F… Israel,” a brief slogan condemning Israeli military actions in Gaza.​ He was detained under a 90 day detention order which is reported to have stated he is detained under the suspicion that he is connected with or concerned in unlawful activity with regards to “associating with members of extremist or terrorist organisations, motivated by extremist ideologies and acting in a manner detrimental to peace and harmony among communities and knowingly concealing such information from security forces”. He was released on bail on April 7, 2025, after he was produced before the Attanagalla Magistrate’s Court.

It was reported that a protest was held on March 29 demanding Rusdi’s release, with the protestors questioning how the peaceful expression of showing solidarity with Palestine is considered an act of terrorism. Further, the organiser of the protest had been summoned to the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), raising questions of alleged intimidation of protestors by Authorities according to social media posts by opposition Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman and Lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah.

About the writers: Nilushi Dewapura is an Attorney-at-Law. Ruki Fernando is a human rights activist and writer who was arrested under the PTA. Both are consultants at the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR) in Colombo.