Mohamed Suhail, a 21-year-old aviation student who was arrested and detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) over an anti-Israel post on social media, has been acquitted of the case.
The Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court today acquitted Muhammad Suhail, who was detained for 09 months under the PTA and released on bail on 15th July 2025.
Attorney-at-Law Ilham Hassanali from the Lawyers for Social Justice organization, appearing on behalf of Muhammad Suhail, requested that the court release his client, as the Police have already submitted a report to the Court that the investigations have not revealed any evidence of a crime.
“Since the police have already submitted a report to the Court that the investigations have not revealed any evidence of a crime, it would be an injustice to continue keeping him bound to this case. Therefore, we humbly make an application to immediately discharge/acquit the suspect from the case,” the lawyer said, when the case was taken up for hearing today (16).
Accordingly, the Mount Lavinia Magistrate ordered that Muhammad Suhail be fully acquitted of the PTA case.
Meanwhile, the Lawyers for Social Justice has taken steps to file a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on behalf of Muhammad Suhail, and notices have been issued.
Mohamed Suhail, a resident of Mawanella, was first arrested in October 2024 near the Israeli consular premises in Dehiwala.
Although initially detained for not carrying his national ID, he was released by the court after producing it, only to be re-arrested shortly after under the PTA based on the Instagram post showing the Israeli flag being trampled. (Newswire)
