The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ruled that the 2019 arrest and detention of a woman for wearing a dress bearing a symbol similar to the Dharma Chakra was a violation of her fundamental rights.
The woman, Abdul Rahim Masahina from Kolongoda, was arrested by the then-OIC of Hasalaka Police, Inspector Chandana Nishantha, under the ICCPR Act. However, it was later revealed the design on the dress resembled a ship steering wheel, not a religious symbol.
Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, delivering the unanimous judgment with Justices Kumuduni Wickramasinghe and Shiran Gunaratne, ordered the officer to personally pay Rs. 30,000 as compensation. The Court also directed the IGP to issue clear guidelines—subject to the Attorney General’s approval—on implementing the ICCPR Act at police stations.
The Court specified that compensation must be paid from the officer’s personal funds, not from public or police welfare resources.
Masahina’s lawyer, Pulasti Hewamanna, told the court that her client was wrongfully arrested under the mistaken belief that her clothing displayed a sacred Buddhist symbol, which turned out to be false upon inspection. (Newswire)
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