Former Western Province Governor Azath Salley has been charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Attorney General (AG) infjormed the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today.
The AG’s Department informed the court that indictments have been filed against Salley under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act and the PTA.
The charges have been filed at the Colombo High Court over a controversial press conference held by Salley on the 09th of March, 2021, the Department added.
Salley was arrested on 16th March over his statements with regard to the Shari’a law during the press conference held in March.
Commenting on Salley’s arrest, Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara told reporters at the time that he was arrested over suspected links to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.
Minister Weerasekara also stated that Salley’s recent statements about the Shari’a law and the State’s law could incite extremism and could lead to terrorism.
Salley has been detained at the Criminal Investigations Department since his arrest in March, and suffered a heart attack while in custody on the 19th of May.
He was transferred to the Colombo National Hospital where he was treated for his illness. (NewsWire)