The former Officer‑in‑Charge (OIC) of the Dehiwala Police, H.M.A.B. Herath, today (March 23) tendered a formal apology before the Supreme Court over the arrest and prolonged detention of a young man from Mawanella. The petitioner, Mohamed Rifai Mohamed Suheil, had been detained for nearly nine months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) following an alleged social media post published in October 2024, which authorities initially interpreted as posing a threat to the Israeli flag.
In open court, the former OIC acknowledged that the actions taken under his supervision had violated the petitioner’s fundamental rights. He further informed the bench that he would personally pay Rs. 2 million in compensation. The payment was handed over to the petitioner during the proceedings.
Case Concluded Through Settlement
The developments unfolded during the hearing of a fundamental rights petition filed by Suheil, challenging what he alleged to be an unlawful arrest and subsequent remand under the PTA.
The matter was taken up before a three‑judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising:
- Chief Justice Priyantha Padman Surasena
- Justice Janak de Silva
- Justice Sampath Wijeratne
Attorney Hejaaz Hizbullah , appearing on behalf of the petitioner, argued that the police had furnished incorrect and misleading information to the Magistrate’s Court, leading to his client being unjustifiably remanded under the PTA for more than nine months. He highlighted that the Attorney General’s Department had later advised that there was no basis to proceed with charges, after which the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court ordered the petitioner’s release.
Counsel Hejaaz Hizbullah also informed the Supreme Court that lawyers representing the police respondents had indicated their willingness to resolve the matter through an amicable settlement, culminating in today’s apology and compensation.