he Court of Appeal has ordered further action on a complaint filed by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court against six politicians and political activists over alleged contemptuous remarks made during a satyagraha campaign opposing the arrest of former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Sallay.
The complaint, submitted by the Fort Magistrate, was taken up on September 8 before a Court of Appeal bench comprising its President, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya, and Justice Priyantha Fernando.
The bench directed the Registrar of the Court to take the necessary steps to proceed with the complaint.
On August 5, Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena ordered that contempt of court proceedings be initiated before the Court of Appeal against the six individuals over remarks allegedly made while criticising the judicial process during the satyagraha.
The protest was held against the arrest and detention of retired Major General Suresh Sallay, who previously served as Director of the State Intelligence Service, in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks.
The Magistrate observed that, prima facie, the remarks appeared to criticise the judicial process and ordered that contempt proceedings be instituted before the Court of Appeal.
The order was issued following a request by the Criminal Investigation Department against former ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, Parliamentarian Dilith Jayaweera, and political activists Sugeeshwara Bandara, Asanka Navaratne and Mahinda Pathirana.
Submitting a progress report on the investigation, CID Inspector Sugath Mendis informed the court that the six individuals had allegedly made public statements critical of the judicial process during the satyagraha held opposite the Colombo Fort Railway Station between July 7 and 15.
He said the CID had launched an investigation and, with court permission, obtained unedited video footage from 10 media institutions containing the statements made by the individuals concerned.
According to the officer, an examination of the footage indicated that the individuals had made remarks allegedly critical of the judiciary and the judicial system.
