The Fort Magistrate's Court  decided to release social media activists Natasha Edirisuriya and Bruno Divakara, after the Attorney General advised that there was insufficient evidence to charge them with making statements harmful to religious harmony.

On May 28 of last year, the Criminal Investigation Department apprehended Social Media Activist and Comedian Natasha Edirisuriya at Katunayake Airport. 

She faced allegations of disrupting religious harmony through a public performance.

Subsequently, the Criminal Investigation Department informed the Fort Magistrate’s Court that they were investigating the charges under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Penal Code.

Bruno Divakara, the former owner of the social media platform that published Natasha Edirisuriya’s statement related to the investigation, was also arrested on May 31 of the same year.

While Bruno Divakara was granted bail by the Magistrate Court on June 21st, Natasha Edirisuriya did not receive the same opportunity from the Magistrate Court.

Consequently, she sought bail from the High Court, which granted it on July 5th, 2023.

Subsequently, the Criminal Investigation Department sought advice from the Attorney General regarding the case. 

The Attorney General opined that there was insufficient evidence to charge the two suspects with hate speech, based on the ICCPR Act, the Penal Code, and other relevant laws.

In light of this advice, Fort Magistrate Kosala Senadheera ordered the release of both Natasha Edirisuriya and Bruno Divakara from this case.