Colombo High Court acquits Azath Salley

• MPs Mohamed Muzammil, Nimal Piyatissa and Gamini Waleboda who filed the complaint ordered to appear on 12 February to decide on compensation
• Maithri Gunaratne PC pleads to court malicious and baseless complaint by MPs caused distress to his client Salley

By T. Farook Thajudeen

Azath Salley

The Colombo High Court yesterday acquitted former Western Province Governor Azath Salley from the case filed against him by the Attorney General. 

High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja acquitted Salley, being observing that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses had failed to establish a valued case. 

Salley was arrested for allegedly making a controversial statement at a media briefing on 9 March attempting to create hatred against different ethnic groups.

He was arrested on 16 March by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act  (PTA) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act.

The Colombo High Court also ordered MPs Mohamed Muzammil, Nimal Piyatissa and Gamini Waleboda, who filed the complaint that led to the arrest of Salley, to be present in court on 21 February 2022.

This was after Maithri Gunaratne PC, who appeared for Salley, pleaded to court that the malicious and baseless complaint by the MPs had caused distress to his client.

Hence, Judge Ranaraja noticed the complainants to appear before court to decide on the compensation.