Human rights watchdogs have criticised using confessions in courts of law

Assistant Superintendant of Police (ASP) SL Ranasinghe of Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) did not appear to answer questions a case against LTTE suspect Thyagaraja Ruban taken for hearing at Colombo High Court.

An alleged confession to police by the suspected LTTE intelligence wing operative has been the main evidence.

The high court met on Tuesday to investigate whether the confession was made voluntarily. However, the police official has failed appear before the court to give eidence.

Slamming ASP Ranasinghe's failure to respect judicial proceedings, the high court judge ordered the police to arrest him and produce before the court.

International human rights organisation have criticised the use of confessions, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as evidence against a suspect in a court of law.