Colombo ( AsiaNews) - Strictly
forbidden to talk to press or to leave Sri Lanka, and ordered to hand over
their computers and phones to anti- terrorism police. This was the
order issued by a Colombo court overnight to Fr. Praveen
Maheshan and Ruki Fernando (see photo), the human rights activists released
- without charge - on March 19 by a magistrate. Speaking
to AsiaNews Fr Stephen Ashok,
director of Center for Society and Religion
(Csr), reports that the two " have already lodged an appeal against this
decision".
The
Anti-Terrorism Department (TID) applied to the Court for this restraining
order. In fact it was the TID which on
March 16 in Kilinochchi (north of the country) arrested
the Tamil priest and Sinhalese activist. The
two were in the area to ask about Balendran Jeyakumari, a Tamil rights activist
arrested along with her 13 year old daughter, on charges of "harboring a
criminal".
"What
they did - Fr . Sarath Iddamalgoda, a convener of the CSM explains to AsiaNews -
was respond to their faith and their conscience. The asked to visit the prisoners, the
exploited and oppressed, and take care of them, as we are always inspired to do
by God. No authorities
can prevent the practice of faith. Unfortunately, few are brave enough to do
it. Fr. Praveen and Ruki , are the modern day prophets".
According to Fr . Iddamalgoda
, " the hierarchy should immediately discuss the matter with the
government [ and ask ] why our country is impossible to profess one's faith."