Salley arrested, Bahu protests

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has arrested former Deputy Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council and the Leader of the Muslim Tamil National Alliance, Azath Salley.

Salley was arrested at his residence in Kolonnawa following several complaints against him, Police Spokesman SP Buddhika Siriwardena said.

Dr. Vickramabahu Karunarathne, who filed an affidavit filed in an appeal made on behalf of M. Azath M. Sally to the Supreme Court, alleged Azath was taken into custody under the PTA and the Police stated that according to a news item, Azath had addressed a meeting provoking Muslims to rise up and directed them to armed struggle and to seek support for such activity in India.

“This news item is inaccurate and a correction has been sent. However, even the said news item has not indicated what the Police interpreted. This Police action is a complete violation of the Commonwealth Charter,” Karunaratne added.