Dr. Punsara Amarasinghe, a senior lecturer at Kothalawa Defence University, was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) last evening. According to police sources, his arrest followed remarks he made during an interview with the popular TV channel Hiru TV. In the interview, Dr. Amarasinghe disclosed that four Sri Lankan IS (Islamic State) suspects, who were recently arrested in Ahmedabad, India, had been on a rehabilitation list since 2019.
Dr. Amarasinghe was summoned to the CID for questioning regarding his statement on the Hiru TV news program. After a thorough interrogation, the authorities decided to take him into custody. He was produced in court today..
The context of Dr. Amarasinghe’s remarks centers on the broader issue of terrorism and the rehabilitation of individuals involved in extremist activities. The four suspects, apprehended in Ahmedabad, have been under scrutiny by both Sri Lankan and Indian authorities due to their alleged connections with IS. Dr. Amarasinghe’s revelation about their rehabilitation status raises significant questions about the effectiveness and transparency of the rehabilitation programs implemented in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Amarasinghe was granted bail by the Fort magistrate’s court today afternoon. (Updated at 3.07PM)
The Sri Lankan IS suspects caught in India were on the rehabilitation list since 2019!
