The teenager, who was arrested on suspicion for publishing false news regarding curfew on social media platforms, has been remanded until the 22nd of October.

The order was delivered by Colombo Chief Magistrate Mohamed Mihar, when the 18-year-old was produced before courts by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) earlier today.

The CID informed the court that the teenager in question was taken into custody for posting a fabricated media release, carrying the letterhead of the Presidential Secretariat and the logo of Ada Derana, on Facebook to mislead the public of an island-wide curfew coming into effect.

The CID further stated that the suspect has violated Article 6 of the Computer Crime Act which states that any person who intentionally causes a computer to perform any function, knowing or having reason to believe that such function will result in danger or imminent danger to the national security, the national economy or public order, shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding five years.

As the investigations into the incident are still ongoing, the CID requested the chief magistrate to place the suspect under remand custody.

Accordingly, the chief magistrate ordered that the 18-year-old be remanded until the 22nd of October and called for a report on the progress of the probes from the CID.