The Court of Appeal today (11) commenced consideration of a complaint filed by the Colombo Fort Magistrate against leader of the Sarvajana Balaya Member of Parliament Dilith Jayaweera, former MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, along with several others, over allegations of contempt of court.

The matter was taken up before a three-judge bench of the Court of Appeal comprising President of the Court of Appeal Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya, Justice Chamath Morais and Justice Aditya Patabendige.

During the proceedings, President's Counsel Manohara de Silva, appearing on behalf of respondent Udaya Gammanpila, commenced presenting submissions.

The President's Counsel stated that the proceedings had originated from a report submitted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on June 15.

He explained that the Fort Magistrate had lodged the complaint on the grounds that a statement made by his client during an interview with a YouTube channel on June 7, concerning the arrest and detention of former Director of the State Intelligence Service retired Major General Suresh Sallay, amounted to contempt of court.

However, President's Counsel de Silva pointed out that the relevant YouTube video did not contain any date or time indicating that his client had made the statement on June 7.

He further questioned how the Magistrate had concluded that his client had made the disputed statement on that particular date, given the absence of such information in the video.

The Court of Appeal is continuing its consideration of the complaint.

The complaint was filed by the Fort Magistrate over statements allegedly amounting to contempt of court regarding the arrest and detention of retired Major General Suresh Sallay, former Director of the State Intelligence Service, who is currently being held by the Criminal Investigation Department in connection with investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.