The Court of Appeal today concluded hearings on the writ petition filed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is seeking an order to prevent his arrest and detention in connection with investigations into the 2019 Easter attacks.

The Court announced that its order on whether to grant permission to proceed with the petition will be delivered on September 22.

The bench further directed that any written submissions related to the case must be filed before August 31. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal today (23) ordered that further consideration of the writ petition filed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, seeking to prevent his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, be postponed until August 3.

The petition was taken up this morning, with President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appearing on behalf of Rajapaksa and presenting reply submissions.

Following the submissions, the bench directed that the matter be deferred to August 3 for further arguments. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal today resumed consideration of a writ petition filed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa seeking an order to prevent his arrest and detention in relation to investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

Rajapaksa appeared before court today (23) as the petition was taken up for further examination.

The matter had previously been considered on July 9 for the fourth day before a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Sarath Dissanayake, when further proceedings were postponed until today. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal today postponed to July 06 further submissions in the petition filed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa seeking an order to prevent his arrest in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks. 

The petition was heard for the second consecutive day before a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohanthaa Abeysuriya and Justice Sarath Disanayake.

Appearing for Rajapaksa, President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva presented additional submissions during today’s proceedings. 

Following this, the bench ordered that further arguments be deferred until July 6. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal today ordered that further consideration of the petition filed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, seeking an order to prevent his arrest in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, be postponed until June 24.

The petition was taken up before a bench comprising Justices Rohantha Abeysuriya and Sarath Disanayake.

Appearing for the petitioner, President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva presented submissions on behalf of Rajapaksa. Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath represented the respondents.

The respondents named in the petition are the Inspector General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department Director Shani Abeysekara, Acting Director Madhava Gunawardena, and the Attorney General.

The case will return to court on June 24 for further consideration. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal today ordered that the petition filed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, seeking an order to prevent his arrest in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, be taken up for consideration tomorrow (18).

The petition was called before a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.

During proceedings, Justice Abeysuriya directed that the matter be recalled tomorrow to confirm the facts.

Accordingly, the petition is scheduled to be heard on June 18 before a bench consisting of Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Sarath Dissanayake. (Newswire)

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Venerable Thiniyawala Palitha Thera has publicly apologized for comments he made regarding the overseas travel ban imposed on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Addressing the media, the Chief Sanghanayaka of the Bentara Chapter of the Maha Vihaarawanshika Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabhawa, said he had made the comments during a press conference held on June 03. 

Akcnowledging that at the press conference, he had condemned the travel ban, the monk clarified that he did not intend to disrespect the judiciary. 

He explained that his remarks were made purely on a humanitarian basis and that he was unaware at the time that the restriction was a court order.

Expressing deep regret, Venerable Palitha Thera emphasized that as a monk he always respects the law. 

He announced that he withdraws his earlier statement and extended an apology for any misunderstanding caused. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today ordered an overseas travel ban on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and two army officers in connection with ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena also ordered the Court Registrar to immediately forward the order to the Controller of Immigration and Emigration.

The orders were issued when the case involving retired Major General Suresh Sallay, former Director of the State Intelligence Service, was taken up in court. 

Sallay has been named as a suspect in the proceedings. (Newswire)

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The Jaffna Magistrate’s Court has granted permission for former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to give evidence remotely via video link in connection with the disappearance of activists Lalith Weeraraj and Kugan Murugananthan.

The habeas corpus petition, filed by the relatives of the two activists who were abducted in Jaffna on December 10, 2011, has been under consideration for several years.

Rajapaksa, who was serving as Defence Secretary at the time of the incident, was issued summons by the court on September 27, 2019, to testify in the inquiry.

Previously, Rajapaksa had given an undertaking to the Supreme Court that he was willing to testify before the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court. 

However, citing undisclosed “security concerns,” he later sought to give evidence through contemporaneous electronic audiovisual means.

Court records show that Rajapaksa failed to appear in December last year, with his lawyers citing threats to his life. 

Thereafter, the court emphasized that such claims must be formally presented to allow proceedings to continue.

The latest order now allows Rajapaksa to testify remotely, paving the way for the continuation of the long‑delayed inquiry into the disappearance case. (Newswire)

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The Supreme Court has ordered that the fundamental rights petition filed requesting an order to recover Rs. 15.9 billion loss caused to the government during the reduction of taxes on imported sugar under the administration of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, be taken up on June 27.

This petition was called today (18) before the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Shiran Gunaratne and Sampath Abeykoon.

After considering the submissions, the bench stated that the petition will be taken up for hearing on June 27. (Newswire)

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The Supreme Court has directed the re‑issue of a notice to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has been named as a respondent in a Fundamental Rights petition challenging compensation payments made to politicians.

The petition seeks recovery of funds allegedly paid unlawfully to former ministers and Members of Parliament whose houses were set on fire or damaged during the island‑wide unrest that erupted following the May 9, 2022, attack on the “Aragalaya” protest site.  

During the hearing today (08), the Supreme Court ordered that fresh notice be served on Rajapaksa. 

The Fundamental Rights petition seeks a declaration that the compensation was unlawful. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal filed by the Sri Lanka Navy, ordering the disclosure of costs and payment details related to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s naval travel during the 2022 crisis.

The ruling, delivered on March 19, came in a request filed by Journalist Rifthi Ali, who had sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding reports that Rajapaksa boarded a naval vessel in July 2022 to escape the country.

Ali’s request, submitted in September 2022, sought eight details, including confirmation of the spending, names of those accompanying the former President, and the cost incurred. The Sri Lanka Navy initially rejected the request in full, citing national security concerns.

Following an appeal by Ali, the RTI Commission in August 2023 ordered the Navy to disclose two key details, the cost of the trip and who paid for it, while allowing the rest to be withheld.

The Navy, through its Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, subsequently filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal challenging the directive to release those two items.

In its judgment, the Court rejected the Navy’s argument that releasing financial data would compromise national security, stating that the claim was not supported by sufficient evidence.

The Court held that access to information is a fundamental right and that exemptions must be narrowly applied, stressing that public authorities cannot rely on blanket claims of secrecy.

“The right to know should be the rule, and the exception should be the refusal,” the Court observed.

The judges concluded that the Navy failed to establish a clear link between disclosing the requested financial information and any genuine risk to national security.

Accordingly, the appeal was dismissed, and the RTI Commission’s order to release the information was affirmed.

Senior Attorney Rushdie Habeeb appeared for Journalist Rifthi Ali along with Attorney A.N. Manathunga Arachchi. (Newswire)

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Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appeared before the Bribery Commission this morning to record a statement. 

According to reports, the former President had left the Bribery Commission after providing a statement for over two and a half hours. 

It is reported that he had been summoned to the Bribery Commission to record a statement concerning an ongoing investigation. (Newswire)

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The Magistrate’s Court of Jaffna today took up the magisterial inquiry related to a habeas corpus application filed over the 2011 abduction and enforced disappearance of activists Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan.

The petition concerns the alleged abduction of the two activists in 2011 from a high-security zone in Jaffna during the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.

Speaking to the media outside court, Frontline Socialist Party Central Committee member Indrananda de Silva said the party had presented multiple pieces of evidence linking Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Defence Secretary of the time, to the alleged abduction.

He alleged that Rajapaksa had repeatedly failed to appear before the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court, citing security concerns, and was attempting to evade judicial proceedings.

De Silva said that at the previous hearing, the magistrate had ordered Rajapaksa to present acceptable reasons for his inability to attend court in Jaffna.

He said that written submissions were presented to court on Thursday on behalf of Rajapaksa, and the court granted time until March 6 for the petitioners to submit their responses.

De Silva further claimed that Rajapaksa was seen attending public events and moving freely in Colombo, including accompanying former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and questioned the credibility of security-related claims raised specifically in relation to appearing before the Jaffna court.

He said the Lalith–Kugan case was the only case currently before court concerning alleged enforced disappearances and killings attributed to the Rajapaksa regime, despite numerous journalists, political activists, and civilians in both the North and South allegedly being killed or disappeared.

De Silva said the party would continue to pursue all possible legal avenues to ensure accountability and called on those advocating democracy, justice, and the rule of law to support the case. (Newswire)

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The Supreme Court has directed the issuance of notices to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and several others named as respondents in a fundamental rights petition related to the May 09 unrest in 2022. 

The case seeks recovery of compensation allegedly obtained unlawfully by former ministers for damages caused when their houses were set on fire during the violent incidents that erupted across the country following an attack on the ‘Aragalaya’ people’s struggle.

Accordingly, notices are to be sent to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Defence Secretary retired Major General Kamal Gunaratne, former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne, former Public Security Ministers Prasanna Ranatunga and Tiran Alles, and former Public Security Ministry Secretary Jagath Alwis, as ordered by the Court.

The petition was filed by environmental lawyer Dr. Ravindranath Dabare. (Newswire)

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The Jaffna Magistrate’s Court ordered former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to submit, through an affidavit, the relevant facts if there are threats to his life, after he failed to appear in court in connection with the 14-year-old abduction case of Lalith Kumar Weeraraju and Kugan Muruganandan.

Lalith Kumar Weeraraju and Kugan Muruganandan were kidnapped in Jaffna on 10 December 2011, while preparations were underway for World Human Rights Day celebrations.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa failed to appear in court once again yesterday, with his lawyers citing threats to his life as the reason for his absence. The court emphasized that any such threats must be presented formally to allow the proceedings to continue.

Speaking to the media, Lawyer  Nuwan Bopage said that previously Rajapaksa had given an undertaking to the Supreme Court that he was willing to give evidence in the inquiry before the Magistrate Court of Jaffna regarding the case, due to which the case was called before the Magistrate Court of Jaffna yesterday (10).

However, due to certain undisclosed “security concerns”, he was seeking to give evidence by way of contemporaneous electronic audiovisual. 

Lawyer Nuwan Bopege said that on behalf of the petitioners, he objected to the application, stating that he should come before the court and physically give evidence. 

Taking into consideration the facts presented during the case proceedings yesterday, the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court instructed former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that the submission must be made by 6 February 2026. (Newswire)

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Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has refuted recent reports linking him to a property in Kataragama, stating that the building near the Menik Ganga is not his property.

Issuing a statement, Rajapaksa said that a news report previously published in the media has mistakenly claimed that a building constructed by another individual near the Menik Ganga in Kataragama belongs to him.

“On Monday, October 13, 2025, certain television channels aired a report in which my name was once again mentioned in relation to this building. A CID investigation was conducted in the past regarding the ownership of this building. I also provided a statement as part of that investigation,” he said.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa further said that the reason he was questioned about this matter was due to an application submitted under the name “G. Rajapaksha” to obtain an electricity connection for the said building.

“That application did not contain a proper signature. The space where the signature should have been was marked with an unclear scribble. As this false report continues to resurface from time to time, I firmly state for public awareness that the building near the Menik Ganga in Kataragama is not my property,” he said. 

Gotabaya Rajapaksa added that he has never had any reason or desire to construct or maintain any building in the Kataragama area. 

The property in question is located on a reservation land near the Menik Ganga in Kataragama, consisting of a building with 12 rooms. The CID launched a probe into the illegal construction of a building on Government land. The investigation initially commenced during the Yahapalana Government but was reportedly halted following Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election as President. 

Investigations conducted so far have revealed that the property in question was constructed before 2010 and was built with the labour of a military group. It is reported that a member of the Sri Lankan Navy, reportedly assigned to the security of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Yoshitha Rajapaksa, had been occupying the building after the construction. (Newswire)

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Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has denied links to a property in Kataragama, which was found to be illegally constructed and linked to electricity bills under the name G. Rajapaksa.

The property in question is located on a reservation land near the Menik Ganga in Kataragama, consisting of a building with 12 rooms. 

According to the state newspaper Dinamina, when questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) the former President had denied links to the property, while he had also informed he was unaware of the electricity bills. 

The CID launched a probe into the illegal construction of a building on Government land. 

The investigation initially commenced during the Yahapalana Government but was reportedly halted following Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election as President. 

Gotabaya Rajapaksa was questioned by the CID on 17 January 2025. His nephew and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa was previously questioned by the CID on 03 January. Both Rajapaksas have denied links to the property.

Investigations reveal that the property in question was constructed before 2010 and was built with the labour of a military group. 

It is reported a member of the Sri Lankan Navy, reportedly assigned to the security of Yoshitha Rajapaksa, has been occupying the building after the construction. (Newswire)

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Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa reported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today regarding an inquiry into a property in Kataragama.

The former President arrived at the CID this morning after receiving a summons and is currently recording a statement. 

The CID is conducting investigations into the ownership of the said property. (Newswire)

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Former President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has expressed his willingness to provide testimony in any court in the country, except the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court, regarding the disappearance of two human rights activists in 2011. This statement was made through his lawyer, Romesh de Silva, during a hearing at the Supreme Court today (October 22).

The case pertains to the abduction of Lalith Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan, two activists who went missing in Jaffna in 2011. Rajapaksa, who was then the Defense Secretary, was initially summoned to testify in the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court. However, he argued that due to security concerns, he could not appear there.

Rajapaksa’s lawyer informed the Supreme Court that while the former president cannot attend proceedings in the Jaffna court, he is prepared to present evidence in any other court in Sri Lanka.

The court was informed of the former President’s security concerns, when a petition filed by the relatives of the disappeared, challenging a previous ruling by the Court of Appeal was taken up today. The earlier decision had stated that Rajapaksa could not be summoned as a witness while serving as president.

The Supreme Court bench, composed of Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Shiran Gunaratne, and Achala Wengappuli, heard the arguments. The petitioners sought an order to compel Rajapaksa to testify, as he is no longer serving as president. The court has scheduled the next hearing for March 18, 2025, for further consideration of the matter.

The initial incident led to a habeas corpus petition filed by the families of the missing activists in Jaffna, with the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court issuing a summons to Rajapaksa in 2019. At the time, he argued that threats to his life prevented him from traveling to Jaffna, seeking to have the summons dismissed.

With his presidency now ended, the Supreme Court will determine whether Rajapaksa can be called upon to testify in the case, potentially setting a precedent for similar cases involving former officials. (Newswire)

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