The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today (15) informed the Fort Magistrate’s Court that it has commenced an investigation into allegations of contempt of court against six individuals, including Member of Parliament Dilith Jayaweera and former Members of Parliament Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila.
Investigating officers stated that the individuals concerned had made statements through electronic media that allegedly hinder investigations currently being conducted regarding former State Intelligence Service Director (Retd.) Major General Suresh Salle, who remains in custody.
The matter was taken up when the case filed before the Fort Magistrate’s Court against former State Intelligence Service Director (Retd.) Major General Suresh Salle and other suspects in connection with the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks was recalled today following a motion filed by the CID.
Submitting a 14-page further report to court, CID investigators stated that Suresh Salle, the third suspect in the case and currently in CID custody, began a hunger strike by refusing food on the night of June 5, 2026. He was subsequently admitted to the National Hospital on June 7, 2026, where he continues to receive treatment.
Investigators informed court that the suspect is currently being treated in Ward 42 of the National Hospital under the supervision of four specialist doctors.
Presenting further facts, the investigating officers alleged that an organized group with political connections has been acting in a manner detrimental to the ongoing investigation and contributing to the creation of public distrust in the judiciary.
Addressing court, the investigators stated:
“Your Honor, an organized group linked to politics has been making statements through electronic media in a manner that is prejudicial to the investigation being conducted regarding this suspect, obstructs the process of justice and creates public distrust in the judiciary. These individuals are former Members of Parliament Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Asanka Navaratne, current Member of Parliament Dilith Jayaweera, as well as Sugeeshwara Bandara and Mahinda Pathirana. Accordingly, it has been revealed that they have committed an offence punishable under Sections 3 (1) (a), 2 (a), (c) (1) (2) (3) and (e) (1) (2) (3) of the Contempt of Court, Judicial Authority or Institution Act No. 8 of 2024. Therefore, an investigation has been initiated in this regard. This further report has cited the statements made by them in question and the sentences in those statements that are contempt of court.”
The CID requested court permission to record statements from the news directors of the media institutions that aired the relevant statements, namely National Television, Swarnavahini, Sirasa TV, Shakthi TV, Wasantham TV, Hiru TV, TV Derana and TNL. Investigators also sought permission to obtain the unedited video footage related to those broadcasts.
In addition, the CID requested that notices be issued requiring the six individuals concerned to appear before court on July 1, 2026.
However, the Magistrate stated that issuing such notices was unnecessary.
“Why are these individuals being requested to be brought to court? There is no need to bring them to this court. After conducting the relevant investigation and considering the facts, a complaint can be filed directly in the Court of Appeal. Then they should directly state their reasons to the Court of Appeal.”
Accordingly, the Magistrate rejected the request to issue notices summoning the six individuals to court on the next hearing date, while granting the remaining requests related to the investigation.
As one of the six individuals, Mahinda Pathirana, had allegedly made the statements in question through Facebook, the Magistrate also ordered that a report be obtained from the CID’s Computer Crime Investigation Division regarding the matter.
The case is scheduled to be called again on July 1, 2026, for a progress report on the ongoing investigations.
