Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara today (10) appointed a five-member panel of expert forensic psychiatrists to examine whether former State Intelligence Service Chief Suresh Sallay, who is currently in CID custody, was subjected to torture while in detention and to submit a report on the findings.

The Magistrate also ordered that the medical examination be conducted at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital, and that the findings be submitted to court on the next hearing date.

The order was issued taking into consideration submissions made to the court by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The 17-page ruling issued today was read out in open court by the Magistrate.

The decision follows a request made by the Attorney General during the previous hearing, seeking an order directing the Director General of Health Services to produce Sallay before a panel of medical experts and obtain a report.