( May 10, 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Former Deputy Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Azath Salley, has been released and is currently being taken to a Private Hospital in Colombo.
Azath Salley, was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the wee hours of 03 May, while hiding in a house in the Kolonnawa area, for allegedly protesting against the government and provoking religious and racial extremism.
The CID said he was arrested under the regulations of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Section 120 of the Penal Code.
Meanwhile, The government, explaining the reasons for having taken Azath Salley into custody, said the arrest was not politically motivated, adding that he was arrested not only because he had made statements which could incite racial tension, but also because he had 16 charges of fraud and other complaints lodged against him.
Director of the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), Lakshman Hulugalle, addressing the media said Salley had to be arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act because of several remarks he had made in Tamil Nadu, recently.
- Ceylon Today
 Former Deputy Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Azath Salley, has been released...){kind=link}