Mohamed Rifai Suhail, was acquitted this week after he was detained last year under Sri Lanka's notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which has been disproportionately used against Tamils and Muslims for decades.
The 21 year old student was arrested by the Dehiwala police in October 2024 for over a social media post which reportedly showed a sword pointing at an Israeli flag.
In July 2025, Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam expressed outrage at the detention and stated that "it is ridiculous" that Suhail was detained under the PTA for "free speech".
"Your reason for allowing the police to continue to use the PTA is that they will use it properly - what grounds can you say this was used properly?" Ponnambalam asked in parliament.
The PTA, originally enacted in 1979, allows for prolonged detention without trial, the use of confessions extracted under duress or torture, limited access to legal representation and facilitating custodial abuses.
The National People's Power government vowed to abolish the PTA before it came into office, however, the act continues to be used to arrest and detain individuals.
In his last report, the UN High Commissioner Volker Türk noted that during the reporting period, mainly Tamil and Muslim individuals were arrested and detained "including for participating or being involved in organisation of memorialisation activities or protests."
Türk also called on the Sri Lankan government to release all long-term detainees, apply a moratorium on the draconian legislation and ensure that any replacement legislation must be in line with international standards.
Successive Sri Lankan governments have pledged to repeal the PTA, yet the legislation remains in force.
