A court in Sri Lanka has decided to re-initiate the investigation of senior Tamil journalist, Dharmaratnam Sivaram.

The case is to be heard for the first time after about five years.

Colombo High Court decided to hear the case in front of a Sinhala speaking jury, following a plea by the suspect, Arumugam Sri Skandharajah also known as Peter.

Police said the suspect was identified as a member of the armed wing of the Tamil militant group turned political party, PLOTE. The suspect was later released on bail.

The former Tamilnet editor was abducted on 28 April 2005 and his body was found dumped a day later in Kotte, a high security zone near Sri Lankan parliament.

The case is to be heard on 28 June.