Remarks by Gammanpila, Weerawansa, Jayaweera, Navaratne, Sugeeshwara, and Mahinda Pathirana found in contempt of court; Magistrate orders to inform Court of Appeal

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena ordered today (05) that the Court of Appeal be informed that statements made to the media by former Members of Parliament Udaya Gammanpila, Wimal Weerawansa, and Asanka Navaratne, Member of Parliament Dilith Jayaweera, Sugeeshwara Bandara, and Mahinda Pathirana were found in contempt of court.

The Magistrate informed in court today (05) that this notification is being made regarding statements made by these six persons through electronic media and social media are in contempt of court, hindering the Easter Sunday terrorist attack investigation being conducted regarding former Chief of National Intelligence Suresh Sallay.

The Magistrate made this notification in relation to facts presented to court by the Criminal Investigation Department regarding this matter.

The Criminal Investigation Department informed court that various statements made by the six persons regarding the Easter attack were being broadcast through electronic media and social media, and that it was an obstacle to this investigation.

The Criminal Investigation Department informed court that these statements were of contempt of court.

The Criminal Investigation Department informed court that issuing statements in this manner under sections 1, 2, and 3 under 3(1)(a) of Act No. 8 of 2024 is a punishable offence, and that false facts were broadcast by these six individuals through electronic media and social media.

Furthermore, permission was also granted by court to the Criminal Investigation Department to obtain unedited footage of relevant statements broadcast regarding this investigation since June 07 from media institutions.