• Police tightlipped about formal charges

Mohamed Rifai Mohamed Suhail, a 21-year-old student, has been held for nearly nine months under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act as amended (PTA), reportedly over a video posted by him on a social media platform in which the Israeli flag was shown being trampled.

An aviation student from Mawanella, Suhail was initially detained by the Dehiwala Police in October 2024 near the Israeli Consular premises for not carrying his National Identity Card (ID). He was later released by court after his ID was produced. However, he was re-arrested and remanded under the PTA in connection with the said Instagram video, despite having previously been released without bail. It was reported that no formal charges have been filed against him, and the Police has yet to produce any evidence of a criminal offence.

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has meanwhile been notified, and his family has filed a complaint. Several rights organisations and legal experts have raised concerns over his prolonged detention without charge.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, Police Media Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police F.U. Wootler said that Suhail was brought before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate on 27 October 2024 under a B report. Since then, he has remained in custody, with his case fixed for hearing yesterday (9).

In response to a query regarding the allegation that the Police has yet to file proper charges against the suspect, he said: "The Criminal Investigation Department has gone through lots of his personal documents and analysed his telephone data and all. I am not in a position to come out with all those findings. However, the matter had been referred to the court and the court had directed for him to be remanded. Further reports have been filed through the Attorney General's Department on 25 December of this year (2025)."

Attempts to contact the HRCSL regarding the long detention of the suspect, proved futile.