The hearings into the case on whether to grant bail or remand former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is likely to be further delayed as sittings are yet to resume after suspension around 5.30p.m.
Sittings were suspended for half an hour by Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura but with a power cut the resumption of sittings was initially delayed. However power was restored more than two hours ago but sittings are yet to resume, our court reporter said.
The former president was produced in Court by the CID this afternoon in connection with misuse of public funds to travel to the United Kingdom in 2023. He faces charges under the Public Property Act.
Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris who appeared for the Attorney General objected to bail while Counsel for Mr.Wickremesinghe, Anuja Premaratne and Upul Jayasuriya requested bail and cited the former president’s ill health and security concerns as one of the reasons for seeking bail.
Security was tightened around the Court as large crowds of his supporters gathered on hearing the news that he was being brought to court.
There were also a large number of lawyers and politicians among the crowd.Former President Maithripala Sirisena was also present in court.
Mr.Wickremesinghe had been asked to report to the CID to give a statement this morning. Following the interrogation by CID officers, he was arrested and later produced in Court.
A short while later, the official car of the Commander of the Navy, bearing plate NAHA 5006, departed from Navy House, Longdon Place, Colombo 7.
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