Police issued a statement today denying social media claims surrounding the recent arrest of a 22-year-old youth who worked at a luxury shopping mall in Colombo.
They stated that he was taken into custody due to concerns over his radical views and because he is considered a person who shows a tendency to engage in some form of terrorist activity.
The arrest, which took place on 22nd March, followed an investigation into a sticker condemning Israeli military actions in Gaza that had been pasted inside the shopping mall. Police said the inquiry led them to the youth, whose behavior and background raised red flags beyond the sticker incident itself.
According to the statement, the arrest was not based solely on the content of the sticker, but because the suspect was identified as someone who could pose a threat under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
The police response came a day after a protest was held in Slave Island demanding the youth’s release. Protesters claimed he was detained simply for expressing solidarity with Palestinians. The suspect, who had been working as a salesperson at the mall, is currently being held by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) under a detention order.
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