The Leader of Sri Lanka’s indigenous (Veddah) community Uruwarige Wannila Aththo has urged authorities to reconsider the detention of Wasantha Mudalige, a leading activist of the ‘Aragalaya’ protest movement.

Speaking at a media briefing in the Kotabakiniya village of Dambana, he said that detaining the youths involved in the ‘Aragalaya’ protest movement and subjecting them to physical and mental torture is deplorable.

If any offence has been committed, it is fair to impose a suitable punishment, but it is not appropriate to detain them for a long period of time and subject them to physical and mental torture, he said.