• Court told CID presented incomplete account of TV interview

The Court of Appeal yesterday (10) directed that further hearing of a writ petition filed by Sarvajana Balaya leader and MP Dilith Jayaweera, challenging a reference made by the Colombo Fort Magistrate over an alleged contempt of court statement, be taken up on 14 September.

The petition was heard before a two-judge bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.

Appearing for MP Jayaweera, President’s Counsel Ali Sabry told Court that the Magistrate’s reference had been made on the basis of incomplete information submitted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

He alleged that the CID had presented the information in a manner that created the impression that Jayaweera had insulted the Court by quoting only selected portions of the television interview in question.

PC Sabry argued that Jayaweera had merely criticised the conduct of the CID during the interview and had not intended to insult or show contempt for the judiciary.

He further submitted that this was evident from other portions of the interview which, according to the submissions, had not been presented to the Magistrate by the CID.

The Court of Appeal was also informed that a related case concerning the incident is scheduled to be taken up on 14 September.

Accordingly, the President of the Court of Appeal directed that the further hearing of Jayaweera’s writ petition also be taken up on the same date.