2026 satyagraha contempt referral
Current status of the 2026 satyagraha contempt referral
Regarding Wimal Weerawansa
PROCEEDINGS PENDINGCourt of Appeal contempt-related referral arising from statements allegedly made concerning the judicial process during a July 2026 satyagraha.
What’s happened
Court of Appeal (Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando) took up the contempt complaint on 8 Sep 2026 and ordered its Registrar to take the necessary further procedural steps. No finding of contempt has been made. A three-judge Court of Appeal bench (Justices Rohantha Abeysuriya, Chamath Morais, and Adithya Patabendige) was appointed on 14 Sep 2026 to hear the complaint. No separate hearing date has been confirmed for this defendant's own part of the referral. Dilith Jayaweera's related writ petition, which challenges the same underlying Fort Magistrate referral, was heard on 18 Sep 2026 and the Court of Appeal reserved its order for 30 September 2026 (dilith-jayaweera-contempt-referral) - it is not yet confirmed whether that order will also resolve this defendant's own part of the joint referral.
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Next hearing / due
- Next hearing not confirmed
Sources (3)
Regarding Udaya Gammanpila
PROCEEDINGS PENDINGCourt of Appeal contempt-related referral arising from statements allegedly made concerning the judicial process during a July 2026 satyagraha.
What’s happened
Court of Appeal (Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando) took up the contempt complaint on 8 Sep 2026 and ordered its Registrar to take the necessary further procedural steps. No finding of contempt has been made. A three-judge Court of Appeal bench (Justices Rohantha Abeysuriya, Chamath Morais, and Adithya Patabendige) was appointed on 14 Sep 2026 to hear the complaint. No separate hearing date has been confirmed for this defendant's own part of the referral. Dilith Jayaweera's related writ petition, which challenges the same underlying Fort Magistrate referral, was heard on 18 Sep 2026 and the Court of Appeal reserved its order for 30 September 2026 (dilith-jayaweera-contempt-referral) - it is not yet confirmed whether that order will also resolve this defendant's own part of the joint referral.
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Next hearing / due
- Next hearing not confirmed
Sources (3)
Regarding Dilith Jayaweera
PROCEEDINGS PENDINGCourt of Appeal contempt-related referral arising from statements allegedly made concerning the judicial process during a July 2026 satyagraha protest against the arrest of former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Sallay. The Colombo Fort Magistrate found six individuals - including Jayaweera, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila - in contempt and referred the matter to the Court of Appeal. In Jayaweera's case specifically, the referral concerns comments he made during a television interview, rather than statements made in person at the protest itself.
What’s happened
Jayaweera filed his own writ petition challenging the Fort Magistrate's referral. A three-judge Court of Appeal bench (Justices Rohantha Abeysuriya, Chamath Morais, and Adithya Patabendige) was appointed on 14 Sep 2026 to hear the joint contempt complaint, and his writ petition specifically was heard on 18 September 2026. The bench did not rule that day; it announced the order will be delivered on 30 September 2026. No contempt finding has been made by the Court of Appeal. Two co-accused in the same referral - Sugishwara Bandara (a former presidential aide) and lecturer Mahinda Pathirana, plus Asanka Navaratne - are not politicians and are not separately tracked on Nadu. On 30 September 2026 the three-judge bench dismissed the writ petition in limine, i.e. without hearing it. Reports say the bench stressed that this does not prejudice Jayaweera's position that he did not commit contempt, and that the Magistrate's finding is not a final determination: the Court of Appeal will itself examine it and summon the respondents only if it finds a prima facie basis. No contempt conviction, sentence or custody order has resulted.
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Next hearing / due
- Next hearing not confirmed
2026 satyagraha contempt referral timeline
- 30 September 2026
Hearing
The Court of Appeal bench (Justices Rohantha Abeysuriya, Chamath Morais and Adithya Patabendige) dismissed Jayaweera's writ petition in limine. The bench reportedly said the Magistrate's finding is not final and that the Court of Appeal will examine it itself; the underlying contempt referral remains pending.
Court: Court of Appeal
- 18 September 2026
Hearing
The Court of Appeal three-judge bench heard Jayaweera's writ petition challenging the Fort Magistrate's contempt referral. The bench did not rule that day and announced its order will be delivered on 30 September 2026.
Court: Court of Appeal
Sources (3)
- 14 September 2026
Hearing
The Court of Appeal appointed a three-judge bench - Justices Rohantha Abeysuriya (Court of Appeal President), Chamath Morais, and Adithya Patabendige - to hear the contempt complaint. No contempt finding has been made by the Court of Appeal.
Court: Court of Appeal
Sources (1)
- 14 September 2026
Hearing
The Court of Appeal appointed a three-judge bench - Justices Rohantha Abeysuriya (Court of Appeal President), Chamath Morais, and Adithya Patabendige - to hear the contempt complaint. No contempt finding has been made by the Court of Appeal.
Court: Court of Appeal
Sources (1)
- 14 September 2026
Hearing
The Court of Appeal appointed a three-judge bench - Justices Rohantha Abeysuriya (Court of Appeal President), Chamath Morais, and Adithya Patabendige - to hear the joint contempt complaint. Jayaweera's own writ petition challenging the referral was listed for support on 18 September 2026, with his counsel requesting that the television interview be screened in open court.
Court: Court of Appeal
Sources (2)
- 8 September 2026
Hearing
Court of Appeal (Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando) took up the contempt complaint on 8 Sep 2026 and ordered its Registrar to take the necessary further procedural steps. No finding of contempt has been made.
Court: Court of Appeal
Sources (1)
- 8 September 2026
Hearing
Court of Appeal (Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando) took up the contempt complaint on 8 Sep 2026 and ordered its Registrar to take the necessary further procedural steps. No finding of contempt has been made.
Court: Court of Appeal
Sources (1)
- 5 August 2026
Hearing
The Colombo Fort Magistrate found Wimal Weerawansa and five others in contempt of court over statements linked to a July 2026 satyagraha protest against the arrest of former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Sallay, and referred the matter to the Court of Appeal under the Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution Act No. 8 of 2024. No sentence or penalty was imposed at this stage; the referral is what places the matter before the Court of Appeal.
Court: Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court
Sources (2)
- 5 August 2026
Hearing
The Colombo Fort Magistrate found Udaya Gammanpila and five others in contempt of court over statements linked to a July 2026 satyagraha protest against the arrest of former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Sallay, and referred the matter to the Court of Appeal under the Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution Act No. 8 of 2024. No sentence or penalty was imposed at this stage; the referral is what places the matter before the Court of Appeal.
Court: Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court
Sources (2)
- 5 August 2026
Hearing
The Colombo Fort Magistrate found Jayaweera and five others in contempt of court - in Jayaweera's case over comments made during a television interview - and referred the matter to the Court of Appeal under the Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution Act No. 8 of 2024. No sentence or penalty was imposed at this stage.
Court: Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court
Sources (2)