Southern Provincial Council Deputy Chairman Sampath Athukorala, who was remanded last week over the alleged publication of defamatory facebook posts against President Maithripala Sirisena, was released on bail today by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.

He was released on a cash bail of Rs 10,000 and two sureties of Rs 500,000 each.

Meanwhile a foreign travel ban was also imposed.

The CID informed court that it had unearthed details of two individuals who had allegedly helped Athukorala in creating these posts.