( March 21, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Human rights activist Ruki Fernando has been barred by court from speaking to the media in relation to his recent arrest, the Colombo Gazette, an online new portal based in Colombo, reports in this morning.
“The Terrorist Investigations Department (TID) had obtained the court order and the order was served on him yesterday”, the report added.
The court order comes just days after Fernando and another activist were set free following their arrest over the weekend.
Ruki Fernando and Catholic Priest, Father Praveen Maheshan, were produced before a Magistrate and released a few days ago.
They were initially arrested in Kilinochchi by the TID and later questioned in Colombo before being released. The police however said that further investigations which led to their arrests will continue.
There was a huge outcry over the arrest of Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Maheshan with the United States, Britain and human rights groups raising concerns and demanding their release.
The issue was also raised at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva but the Government defended the arrest saying it was linked to attempts by the LTTE to regroup in the North.