Gazette for the detention of terror suspects at Welisara Navy camp

The Government has decided to utilise the Welisara Gemunu Naval base to detain suspects arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), it is reported.

This was revealed through a Gazette notification 2125/10 issued by the President on May 27th.

This Gazette was issued under the PTA.

Under the PTA those arrested while emergency is in force, suspects could be detained for months on court orders under the directives of the Defence Secretary.

Currently, the suspect arrested under the PTA are being detained and questioned by the CID, TID and Colombo Crimes Division.

Those arrested under the PTA can be held by the Army Navy or Air Force only for 24 hours. Thereafter the suspects should be handed over to the police.

According to police sources, this is the first instance that suspects would be held by anyone apart from the police.

However, during evidence it was revealed in court that the 11 persons including five youths abducted and killed for ransom were being held at this Welisara Naval camp.