The Court of Appeal has ordered the Attorney General to take action against State Minister Sanath Nishantha, who has been accused of being in contempt of court.

Accordingly, the Court of Appeal ordered the Attorney General to take steps to file the relevant charges on January 17.

Three petitions had been filed by Attorneys-at-Law Priyalal Sirisena, Vijitha Kumara and the Judicial Officers’ Association, seeking the courts to take action against the state minister for contempt of court.

The petitioners in the petitions said that Sanath Nishantha at a media conference held at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party headquarters on August 23, had expressed critical views on the manner in which the magistrates acted in granting bail to the suspects involved in the ‘Aragalaya’ protest movement.