Sri Lanka, Oct. 27 -- Police have the authority to take mobile phones into custody and examine their contents during criminal investigations, subject to legal procedures and court orders, Police Spokesman Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) F.U. Wootler said.

Addressing the question of whether police can examine a citizen's mobile phone, ASP Wootler said such action must be based on information relevant to an investigation and carried out in accordance with the law.

He explained that when information relating to a mobile phone becomes relevant to an investigation, police may take the device into custody and produce it before a court as an exhibit. The contents of the phone may subsequently be examined to obtain evidence required f...