Dilith Jayaweera

Dilith Jayaweera is the subject of pending court proceedings. No conviction has been recorded. Court 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. 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.