The Supreme Court has fixed for argument the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by Shakthika Sathkumara, challenging his arrest and detention over an allegation that he had propagated religious hatred through a short story.
Sathkumara was arrested on April 1, 2019, under the Penal Code and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act for allegedly propagating religious hatred through his literary work.
Sathkumara was later discharged from the case, following the Attorney General's recommendation not to prosecute him any further.
The SC three-judge bench has scheduled the petition for argument on June 7, 2024. President's Counsel Saliya Pieris appeared for the petitioner, and Deputy Solicitor General Lakmali Karunanayke represented the respondents.