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ITSSL Chairman files FR over detention

12 Jan 2022

  • States CID took him into custody for pointing out security flaws in govt. websites
Information Technology Society of Sri Lanka (ITSSL) President Rajeev Yasiru Kuruwitage Mathew has filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition in the Supreme Court (SC) against his arrest and detention in June 2021 for allegedly pointing out the possibility of cyber-attacks on government websites. The respondents in the petition include the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director, CID Digital and Forensic Unit Officer-in-Charge (OIC), CID Social Media Unit OIC, Director General of Health Services, Pitakotte Medical Officer of Health, and the Attorney General. The petitioner has claimed that he was summoned by the CID on 5 June 2021 with regard to a statement published by ITSSL regarding a series of cyber-attacks that had been orchestrated against websites under the “gov.lk” domain. He alleged that after delivered his statement to the CID, he was allowed to return home, but was subsequently taken into custody on 7 June 2021 by CID officers dressed in civilian attire who refused to divulge the reasons for his arrest, and was detained until 8 June 2021, when he was produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. The petitioner thus alleged that his right to freedom was infringed upon by the respondents, and further alleged that not only did the CID fail to produce him before the Magistrate without undue delay, but also that the prosecution made a wrongful application for his remand until the relevant investigations were concluded. He also alleged that he was held in remand custody even after bail had been granted, on the technicality of requiring a negative PCR test. The petitioner also claimed that his mobile phone and laptop were handed over to the Court during the process, and he has as yet been unable to recover this equipment.  


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