Court seeks AG advice on defamation case against ex-MP Sri Ranga

The Colombo Crimes Division has been instructed to submit the Attorney General's advice to court by 5 February in connection with allegations against former MP J. Sri Ranga and several co-accused. The directive was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama during proceedings on the complaint.

The case centres on accusations that the defendants printed and publicly displayed a poster alleged to be defamatory in nature, targeting Mannar High Court Judge M.M.M. Mihal. The exact nature of the allegations and identities of all accused parties remain subject to the ongoing investigation.

The Chief Magistrate's order reflects standard legal procedure in defamation cases, whereby the prosecution must obtain prosecutorial opinion before proceeding. The Attorney General's advice will be critical in determining whether sufficient grounds exist to pursue formal charges against the accused.

The matter is scheduled to return before the court on 5 February, when investigators are expected to present the Attorney General's assessment. This development marks a significant procedural step in the complaint, which has drawn public attention given the involvement of a former parliamentarian and a sitting judicial officer.