The SC ordered the IGP to pay a Rs. 25,000 compensation to each of the petitioners.

A panel comprising judges Priyasad Depp, Sisira de Abrew and Anil Gunaratne took up the FR petition filed by the two JVPers, who had been arrested on 12 January 2009.

The ruling notes that their arrests had taken place during a period in which Sirasa media institution had been torched and journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga had been murdered.