Two activists served...

Although the lawyers who appeared on behalf of Fernando and Fr. Praveen confirmed they were released unconditionally without any charges upon conclusion of investigations, the statement on the External Affairs Ministry website claimed that the activists were ‘released on bail and that further investigations would continue’.

Meanwhile, the notice issued by the Colombo Magistrate Courts that was served to Fernando and Fr. Praveen on Thursday, contained three orders as per which the two activists should hand over all electronic equipment in their possession including mobile phones, laptops and tabs to the Courts, hand over their passports and cannot speak to the local or international media con- cerning their arrest or the ongoing investigation.

The notice was challenged by the lawyers appearing on behalf of the activists yesterday and an application to revise the notice, through which the three orders could be vacated or varied, was filed at the Colombo Magistrate Courts.

Lawyer and Human Rights Activist J. C. Weliamuna - one of the lawyers who appeared on behalf of Fernando and Fr. Praveen said the order of handing over the passports was compounded to restricting travel overseas without prior permission from Courts.

The two activists were arrested under terror charges by the TID in Kilinochchi and thereafter brought to TID headquarters in Colombo and were interrogated for 48 hours.