• Seeks quashing of CID/CCID probe on alleged contempt 

Journalist Tharindu Iranga Jayawardhana has filed a revision application before the Colombo High Court (HC), seeking the declaration of an order issued by the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court (MC) pertaining to an alleged contempt of court charge, null and void, and an order preventing the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) from continuing the related investigations.

Journalists Jayawardhana and Tharindu Uduwaragedara, Attorney Lakmali Hemachandra, activists Brito Fernando and Vidarshana Kannangara had recently held a media briefing on the arrest of stand-up comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act.

An attorney representing the 'Sinhala Ravaya' organisation had then made submissions to the Colombo Fort MC to the effect that the said persons had expressed views in contempt of court during the media briefing. Considering the submissions, the Colombo Fort Magistrate had ordered the CID and the Computer Crimes Investigation Division (CCID) to launch an investigation into the matter.

Jayawardhana has filed a revision application before the Colombo HC seeking the declaration of the said order as null and void. In the application, he has claimed that a MC has, as per the Judicature (Amendment) Act, No. 9 of 2018, no authority to issue such an order. He has further claimed that the relevant media briefing was held in the Maradana Police Division, which belongs to the Maligakanda jurisdiction, and that accordingly, the Colombo Fort MC has no authority to issue orders pertaining to the incident.

Through the application, which has been filed through Attorney Manushika Cooray, the petitioner has also sought an order preventing the CID and the CCID from continuing investigations as per the order issued by the Colombo Fort MC.