Southern Provincial Council Deputy Chairman Sampath Athukorala was released by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya after the first accused in the case pleaded guilty for creating defamatory Facebook posts about President Maithripala Sirisena.

This incident took place during the last Presidential Election.

Athukorala was arrested after surrendering to the Police on October 1. He was remanded on the same day and was released on bail four days later.

The first accused in the case was warned and released.