Human rights groups have urged Sri Lanka to release a prominent student activist who was arrested five months ago during anti-government protests triggered by the country’s worst economic crisis.

Wasantha Mudalige, who is being held without charges under a harsh anti-terrorism law, was brought before a magistrate in Colombo yesterday who ordered him to be remanded until January 31.

Mudalige is the convener of the Inter-University Students’ Federation and was involved in months of anti-government demonstrations last year.

The protesters demanded wide-ranging reforms to resolve the economic crisis that caused severe shortages of essential goods, fuel and medicine.

The protests culminated in the flight and resignation of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after thousands of people stormed his residence in July.

Rights groups say the military has sought to curtail protests through intimidation, surveillance and arbitrary arrests since Wickremesinghe took office in July.

Mudalige was also arrested and jailed for more than three months in 2021 after protesting for the right to free education.