Elasinghe v. Wijewickrema and Others – sllr 1993 volume 1 page 163

In the case between Elasinghe (Plaintiff) and Wijewickrema and Others (Defendants), the court addressed the legality of the plaintiff’s arrest and detention under the Emergency Regulations. The issue was whether the arresting officers had reasonable suspicion and followed due procedure in informing the plaintiff of the reasons for arrest, as well as the lawfulness of continued detention for the investigation of alleged subversive activities. It was held that sufficient objective material existed to justify both the arrest and the detention, and the application for relief was dismissed. The decision reaffirmed the principle that an arrest under Emergency Regulations requires only the existence of material for a reasonable officer to act, not a prima facie case, relying on established preced