COLOMBO, June 16 -- The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has informed the Colombo Magistrate's Court that public statements made by six political and public figures regarding the Easter Sunday attacks investigation amount to contempt of court and has launched an investigation into the matter.

The CID made the submission before Colombo Magistrate Pasan Amarasena on Monday (15) through a motion and a 14-page report outlining the basis for the inquiry.

Those named in the investigation are Parliamentarian Dilith Jayaweera, former ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, former presidential secretary Sugeeswara Bandara, and public figures Mahinda Patirana and Asanga Navaratna.

CID officers told the court that the six individu...