Sri Lankan police apologise in court after Muslim student held under PTA for Palestine post

A Sri Lankan police officer has apologised in open court and paid Rs. 2 million in compensation after admitting that the arrest and nine-month detention of a 21-year-old Muslim student under the Prevention of Terrorism Act was unlawful Sri Lanka's Supreme Court was informed on 23 March 2026 that the arrest and prolonged remand of Mohamed Rifai Mohamed Suhel, a 21-year-old student from Mawanella, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act were unlawful. The responsible police officer appeared before the court, expressed regret, acknowledged a violation of the young man's fundamental rights, and handed over Rs. 2 million in compensation in open court. The case had its origins in October 2024, when Shuhail was first detained by officers from the Dehiwala Police near the Israeli consular premises in Colombo for failing to carry his national identity card. He was brought before a judge and released after his father, M. Rifai, produced the document in court. That same evening, Dehiwala officers visited the family home in Mawanella and re-arrested him. This time, he was detained under the PTA, with police citing an Instagram post in which he had shared content expressing solidarity with Palestinians. According to reports, the post showed the Israeli flag being trampled. Shuhail was subsequently held at the Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Court from 27 October 2024. No formal charges were ever filed against him. The Criminal Investigation Department reviewed his personal documents and telephone data, yet the case produced no evidence sufficient for prosecution. He was prevented from graduating from his airline cabin crew course, which had been scheduled for completion in January 2025. The petition was heard before Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Janak de Silva and Sampath Wijeratne. Counsel for the petitioner, Hejaaz Hizbullah, noted that the Attorney General had advised there was no basis for charges, which led to Suhel's release by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Court. Dehiwala Police OIC H.M.A.B. Herath appeared before the bench, expressed regret and acknowledged the violation of fundamental rights. Both parties agreed to settle, and the Supreme Court ordered the conclusion of proceedings. Suhel also undertook to withdraw a complaint he had filed with the Human Rights Commission against the officer. When Shuhail remained in custody last year, his arrest formed part of a broader pattern of the Sri Lankan state deploying the PTA against those who publicly oppose Israeli military action. In March 2025, Mohammed Rushdi, another Muslim youth, was arrested by the Counter Terrorism and Investigation Division and detained under the PTA after allegedly displaying stickers reading "Against Israel's atrocities on innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza" near the Israeli consulate. Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake personally signed the PTA detention order in that case. The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, the country's leading Muslim clerical body, condemned the arrest, saying it "strongly condemns the arrest of any individual for lawfully and democratically expressing their grievances." Rushdi was eventually granted bail after two weeks, following widespread condemnation from human rights organisations. A Sri Lankan opposition MP later claimed that the release of Rushdi was timed to coincide with an upcoming visit by a European Union delegation. The PTA, originally enacted in 1979, has long been condemned by human rights organisations for facilitating arbitrary detention, allowing for prolonged remand without trial, permitting the use of confessions extracted under duress, and limiting access to legal representation. The National People's Power government vowed to abolish the PTA before taking office. However, the act continues to be used to arrest and detain individuals.