The doctors are accused of providing false reports to international media

The government doctors who served in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi during the last days of the conflict between the government forces and the LTTE were earlier ordered to report to the police on every last Sunday of the month.

During the last days of the war between the Sri Lankan state and the Tamil Tigers, where no independent media or voluntary organisations were allowed in the war zone, the Tamil doctors were the major source of information for many news outlets including the BBC.

US report

Although casualty figures given by the doctors have been vehemently denied by Sri Lanka's government and it's military, a recent report by the US state department has detailed accounts of heavy civilian casualties resulting from attacks by Sri Lankan security forces.

The Colombo magistrate on Monday allowed their request to relax the requirement to report to police Criminal Investigation Division (CID) every month.

Government doctors, T Satyamurthy, S Vardarajah, V Shanmugarajah, Ilankovan Vallavan and Sivapalan were earlier released on bail and allowed to continue their work in government hospitals.

S Poopalasingham, counsel for the accused told BBC Sandeshaya that the court also allowed their request to seek their salary during the time they were under arrest.

In a report submitted to the court, the CID said the investigations are still continued despite the doctors admitting providing false reports under pressure from the LTTE.

The hearing was postponed until January 18.