The Fort Magistrate's Court has referred six individuals, including former Minister Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, to the Court of Appeal on contempt of court allegations following statements made during a July protest campaign.
Six political activists and academics have been referred to the Court of Appeal on allegations of contempt of court following an investigation into their public statements. The referral, initiated by the Fort Magistrate's Court on August 5, names former Minister Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Sugeeshwara Bandara, Dilith Jayaweera, Asanka Navarathna, and Senior Lecturer Mahinda Pathirana as the individuals involved.
The action stems from a Satyagraha campaign conducted between July 7 and 15, during which the six allegedly made public statements criticizing judicial proceedings. The campaign was organized in opposition to the arrest of former Director of National Intelligence Suresh Salley, who was detained as a suspect in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks investigation.
Following a report filed by the Criminal Investigation Department, Magistrate Pasan Amaraseena determined that the statements made by these individuals appeared, on initial examination, to contain criticism directed at the judicial process. Based on this assessment, the Magistrate's Court decided to refer the matter to the Court of Appeal for the filing of formal contempt of court charges against all six individuals.
