Chief Magistrate chides CID for arresting messenger rather than culprit

Sharing on social media Mahaveer Naal celebrations

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage yesterday granted bail to Kelum Harshana, arrested for allegedly sharing false and fabricated information and images about Mahaveer Naal celebrations in the North.

Magistrate Gamage informed the CID that they should have arrested the organisers, and those who conducted the commemoration event, rather than the persons who shared such posts on social media.

The Chief Magistrate said that the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act should not be abused.

On 30 November, the CID arrested three individuals, aged 28, 35, and 45, from Maradana, Chunnakam, and Baddegama, for allegedly causing public disturbance by sharing images and videos of Velupillai Prabhakaran and circulating old clips, misrepresented as current events.

The arrests were made under Section 120 of the Penal Code and Section 27 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for inciting public unrest and promoting a proscribed organisation, via misleading social media posts.

Commenting to the media following the trial, Attorney-at-Law Manoj Gamage said the court granted bail to the suspect on the grounds that the charges did not demonstrate the promotion of terrorism.

The arrests were made under Section 120 of the Penal Code and Section 27 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act No. 48 of 1978, for allegedly inciting public unrest and promoting the activities of a proscribed organisation through misleading social media posts.