SC hands lawyer three-year prison term for contempt

Tuesday, 10 February 2026 05:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka (SC) yesterday sentenced an attorney-at-law to three years’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of contempt of court.

The Court imposed a custodial sentence on respondent attorney Priyantha Jayathunga, ordering that the term run from 1 July 2024, the date from which he has remained in remand custody in connection with the incident.

The contempt proceedings arose from statements made by the respondent while appearing in a matter before the Supreme Court, in which he accused three sitting Justices of suppressing the truth and acting with malice towards him, and further alleged that they had committed an offence under Section 289 of the Penal Code.

The judgment was delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Shiran Gooneratne, Achala Wengappuli, and Priyantha Fernando.

Having concluded that the elements of contempt were established, the Court proceeded to impose the sentence accordingly.