The IPU in it’s recent official Tweet on 18th had posted the following:
“The IPU is pleased that Sri Lankan Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen was finally released on bail following his arrest on the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The IPU will closely monitor his trial”
Rishad Bathiudeen, Member of Parliament and Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress was arrested by the CID on 24th April 2021 under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979. He was detained for a total of 177 days before he was finally released on bail on 14th October.
Being a Parliamentarian, the case of Rishad Bathiudeen had drawn the attention of the IPU. The IPU is an international organization comprising of 179 national Parliaments and 13 regional Parliamentary assemblies from all over the globe. Having been established in 1889, the primary goal of the IPU has been to promote democratic governance and accountability. It also has permanent observer status in the United Nations General Assembly. The IPU has considerable influence in the affairs of the United Nations and has contributed towards numerous resolutions of the General Assembly.
The investigations of the IPU are still ongoing and have not been made public. It is likely the IPU would take up the case of arbitrary arrest of Rishad Bathiudeen in its upcoming session in November at Madrid, Spain.
(Press release form the Media office of Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen.)