The Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) has begun investigating whether remarks made by former minister Wimal Weerawansa at an SLPP rally in Anuradhapura on 12 September amounted to contempt of court.
The inquiry was opened on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police, following a directive from the Colombo Chief Magistrate, the Daily Mirror reported.
The order is now being acted on
This is the next stage of a matter we reported on 18 September, when Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama directed the IGP to investigate. Today’s development is that police have actually opened the file.
NewsFirst reports that the CCIB has already reported facts to Colombo Magistrate’s Court No. 2, and that the magistrate has directed investigators to keep the court informed of the inquiry’s progress.
Hiru News reports that the investigation is proceeding on complaints and material received about views Weerawansa expressed at the public rally.
Where the complaint came from
The question reached court during proceedings in the Airbus bribery case against MP Namal Rajapaksa. Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, appearing for the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), asked the court to examine whether the rally remarks were contemptuous, and submitted a compact disc containing a recording of the speech.
Still not established
No outlet reports what Weerawansa actually said about the court order — the element any contempt finding would turn on. No finding has been made against him, no notice to respond is reported, and no timeframe for the CCIB report is stated.
Weerawansa separately faces a Court of Appeal contempt matter over a July protest, which is a distinct proceeding before a different court.
