The doctors have been detained under PTA for over eight months

Colombo magistrates court also ordered the police Criminal Investigation Division (CID) to speed up the investigations that has already taken more than eight months.

The doctors who worked in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts; T Satyamurthy, V Shanmugarajah, T Vardharajah, Ilanchelian Vallavan and N Ketheesh appeared before the court on Monday.

International and local media had to rely on these doctors serving patients in the war zone in a time where journalists and international organisations were banned from entering the area.

Travelling from Vavuniya

The doctors are accused by the government of providing false information on casualty figures to international media.

They were released on bail in August and later allowed to work in government hospitals.

Counsel appearing for the accused, K Poopalasingham, told KS Udayakumar of BBC Sandeshaya that a request was made from courts to order the police to speed up the investigation as it is difficult for the doctors to regularly travel from Vavuniya to appear before courts in Colombo.

But the investigations whether the accused have committed any offence under emergency regulations are continuing, the CID informed the court.

The police were ordered to submit a detailed report on the investigations on 14 June.