Sri Lankan YouTuber Rathidu Senarathna, also known as Ratta arrested by Sri Lanka Police on Monday (30) afternoon.

According to reports Sri Lanka Police had reported facts to court that the suspect had protested Opposite Fort Magistrate’s court on the 25th of May 2022, and had obstructed the duties of the police officers present at the premises.

Sri Lanka’s Police on Monday said its Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is investigating reports that three anti-government protest activists including a popular YouTuber withdrawing 45 million rupees received from overseas. The activists have denied the allegation.

Media reports claimed that YouTuber Rathidu Senarathna also known as Ratta and two other activists had opened a new account at a state-owned bank early in July and that the accounts had received a total of 45 million rupees from abroad.

“Investigations have been launched over information received on social media. Claims can be denied. Investigations launched by the CID in no mean that the person is a wrongdoer,” Police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa.

The move comes after Sri Lanka’s youth-led protest movement, known collectively as the aragalaya (or the struggle), celebrated 100 days of agitation against former President Rajapaksa and his government. The protest has already ousted the president, a prime minister, cabinet twice, a central bank governor, and a finance secretary.

Senarathna denied the allegations.

“Media organisations have published stories with our names before confirming with us. This is a bogus story fast spreading on WhatsApp,” he told EconomyNext.

“The Aragalaya accepts no cash donations. We receive physical donations such as water bottles and food. The named three activists have not received cash donations and we have not opened any accounts,” he said.

Newly sworn-in Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe have accused subversive elements within the aragalaya of trying to destabilise the country.