The Appeal Court today (Oct 15) ruled that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, prior to the implementation of the19th amendment, could oversee ministries where ministers were yet to take over functions.
A three-member judge bench issued this ruling while delivering the final verdict to reject the petition filed against the dual citizenship certificate of Presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa this month.
Two civil activists, petitioned court arguing that the certificate had been issued by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2005 when a cabinet of ministers was not functioning.
They said that citizenship matters had been handled by the Defence Ministry at that time.
However, the Appeal Court ruled that Rajapaksa was legally vested with the powers to issue dual citizenship certificates in the absence of a Defence minister in 2005.
Further, the judge bench had held that another reason to reject the petition was the failure by the petitioners to name the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) of which Rajapaksa is a presidential candidate, as a respondent to the petition.
The full verdict can be viewed here
A Thai woman walking topless in Arugam Bay town has been arrested by the Police.
Ajith Gallage, the owner of a Bird Park in Nagarawawa, Hambantota, has been remanded over allegations of concealing illegally imported motorcycles, in a warehouse owned by him.
The Cabinet has approved a proposal for Sri Lankans overseas to apply for their passports through an online system via the Lankan diplomatic missions.
A passenger attempting to smuggle the largest quantity of gold of 35 kilo grams was arrested by the Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) today, a senior official said.
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