A senior Presidential Media Division officer has pleaded guilty to posting a controversial Facebook statement insulting former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and allegedly fueling racial discord, but was released by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court with only a stern warning.
A senior official of the Presidential Media Division pleaded guilty before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday in connection with a controversial social media post that insulted former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the height of the political struggle, while also allegedly inciting racial tensions.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga issued a strong verbal warning to the suspect, identified as Duminda Senarath, after he admitted his guilt. The court then ordered his release from the case without imposing a penalty.
The case, filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), was taken up yesterday, with the suspect represented by attorney Lalith Pathirana. The defense requested that the court consider the guilty plea as grounds for a warning rather than a punishment, emphasizing his willingness to take responsibility for his actions.
CID officials told the court that the accused had made inflammatory statements on Facebook and other social media platforms with the potential to cause discord between communities.
They further explained that during the 2022 struggle, a false statement was posted on a Facebook page managed by the suspect, claiming that if Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected President, he had promised Minister Ali Sabry that 100 Kathi courts would be established nationwide. The CID confirmed that the suspect’s lawyer had informed investigators of his client’s readiness to plead guilty to the offense.
After reviewing all submissions, Magistrate Jayatunga admonished the suspect, stressing the seriousness of spreading false and racially divisive statements online, but allowed his release from the case on the basis of his admission of guilt.
