The Supreme Court declared that the detention order issued by then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to detain and investigate a woman arrested in 2020 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for possessing heroin was completely contrary to the law.
The court emphasized that the government had violated basic human rights by detaining the woman without proper legal grounds. As a result, the government has been ordered to pay the petitioner a compensation of one hundred thousand rupees for the violation of her rights.
The case stems from an arrest made in 2020 by the Peliyagoda Special Investigation Unit, where the woman was detained under the controversial PTA, a law often criticized for its broad powers to detain individuals without trial or sufficient evidence.
The ruling marks a significant step towards upholding constitutional rights and ensuring that the application of the PTA adheres to legal standards and human rights protections. Legal experts say this decision could set an important precedent for future cases involving the misuse of such powers.
The government has yet to respond to the Supreme Court’s decision, but the ruling is expected to spark discussions on the broader implications of the PTA and the need for reform in Sri Lanka’s legal framework.
