The Colombo Justice of the Peace’s Courtroom at this time (06 Jan.) ordered Sepal Amarasinghe, a social media activist arrested by the Legal Investigation Division, to be remanded till the tenth.
Colombo Further Justice of the Peace Tharanga Mahawatta issued the related order after contemplating the details offered by the Legal Investigation Division (CID).
Amarasinghe was arrested by the CID final night (05 Jan.) after not too long ago making a number of controversial statements in regards to the much-venerated Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.
The YouTuber’s current claims have led to chaotic uproar amongst Sri Lanka’s predominantly Buddhist society, officers of the CID highlighted, whereas the Director Common of Division of Archaeology additionally asserted that the slanderous statements in query have been a grave wrongdoing.
The Chief Prelates of the Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters have additionally knowledgeable the CID that they’re prepared to supply statements pertaining to the matter, the CID knowledgeable the court docket.
Investigations have additionally revealed that Amarasinghe had obtained funds from individuals abroad, concerning which the CID are conducting additional probes underneath the Prevention of Cash Laundering Act, and the Act pertaining to offering monetary assist to terrorists.
The CID have requested that the accused be remanded until 19 January underneath the the Worldwide Conference on Civil and Political Rights.
This request was, nevertheless, rejected.
Showing on behalf of Amarasinghe, Namal Rajapaksa acknowledged that his shopper has solely tried to defend the faith from myths and different dangerous assertion by the numerous variety of movies posted on his YouTube channel, affirming that the accused had no intention of insulting Buddhism.
Rajapaksa additionally levelled a critical accusation that Amarasinghe had been arrested for the aim of gaining political revenge, stating that the controversial statements had solely make clear the truth that the Authorities was making an attempt to overshadow the continuing financial disaster by readying to carry an exhibition of the Tooth Relic.
The CID initiated investigations into the statements made by Amarasinghe after Inspector-Common of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne obtained written complaints on this regard, which result in Amarasinghe’s arrest.
The chief prelates of Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters, Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thero and Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thero additionally wrote to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, elevating considerations in regards to the offensive statements made by Amarasinghe, and urged the federal government to take crucial measures to nip the matter within the bud.
In the meantime, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, talking in parliament yesterday, vowed authorized motion in opposition to Amarasinghe, stressing that the non secular concord within the nation can’t be allowed to be disrupted.
Pursuant to the Worldwide Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act, No. 56 of 2007, propagating warfare or advocating nationwide, racial, or non secular hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence is a punishable offense with rigorous imprisonment for a time period not exceeding 10 years.
