The Court of Appeal has dismissed a writ petition filed by former State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera seeking an order to prevent his arrest in connection with a case against the alleged illegal acquisition of state land under the jurisdiction of the Kelaniya Divisional Secretariat.

The order was issued by a bench comprising the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mohammed Laffar Tahir and Justice Priyantha Fernando.

Former Minister Mervyn Silva and several others are currently in remand custody, as ordered by the Mahara Magistrate’s Court, in connection with the same incident.

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has submitted a written complaint to the Chairman of the Election Commission – R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, alleging the unauthorized use of her name and photograph in election campaigning.

In her letter, she claims that UPFA candidates in the Attanagalla electorate are distributing handouts with her photograph without her consent, alongside those of Lasantha Alagiwanna and Sarana Gunawardena,

She also mentioned that she had previously instructed all candidates not to use her name or photograph in any form.

As this constitutes a violation of election laws, she has requested to immediately halt these activities.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated that legal action will soon be taken against 03 former ministers accused of using vehicles without proper registration.

He made this statement while addressing a public meeting held in Beruwala.

“No village would even drive a motorbike on the roads without registering it. But there was a time when ministers of this country had imported vehicles even when it was forbidden to do so. They use those vehicles without licenses and with fake number plates. They think that the law does not apply to them,” he said.