Eight people who were arrested in January 2019 based on suspicions that they were in possession of Claymore bombs under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) have been released on bail.
The released include five men and three women who were supported legally by the Centre for Human Rights and Development in Sri Lanka (CHRD).
The CHRD filed a petition in the High Court against the violation of the fundamental rights of the arrested and it also appealed to the Defence Ministry and the Office of the Attorney General for their release.
The release was secured following a letter of consent sent by the Attorney General to the Defence Ministry which permitted the release based on Clause 7:1 of the PTA.
Advocate Ketheeswaran appeared in Vavuniya Court on behalf of the arrested and called for their release. Justice K. Thayaparan presided over the case and allowed the eight people who were arrested under PTA to be released on bail.
