COLOMBO : Former Western Province Governor Azath Salley, who was acquitted by High Court Judge Amal Ranarajah on Thursday, Dec
ember 2 said democracy prevails and independence of judiciary is well maintained in Sri Lanka.
“ I was brought to court by three legislators who want to collar me for things which I never dreamt to do. I was misquoted by the plaintiffs,” he said, pointing out that he was released following a series of trials because of fair play exercised by the judiciary.
High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja acquitted Salley, being observing that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses had failed to establish a valued case.
Salley who is still in the hospital after the acquittal, will be leaving for home on Saturday on medical advice.
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 plaintiffs to appear before court on Feb,21,2022, to decide on the compensation.
Salley also thanked all those who offered their prayers for his early release . “ I am glad that they all knew my contributions to the community as well as to the nation, “he added
