UPDATE : Hearing of submissions in Gota's citizenship case ends ; verdict this evening

Update : The hearing of oral submissions in the petition challenging Rajapaksa's dual citizenship has concluded at the Appeal Court.

The case is being heard before a judge bench comprising Appeal Court President Yasantha Kodagoda, Arjuna Obeysekera, and Mahinda Samayawardana for the third day today.

During today's hearing, court ordered that written submissions could be made until 3:30 pm.

Meanwhile the final verdict on the case is expected to be issued this evening.

Gota's citizenship case begins, lawyers claim 'baseless allegations' request court to dismiss petition

Lawyers appearing for Presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today (Oct 4) requested the Appeal Court to dismiss the petition challenging Rajapaksa's dual citizenship.

Presidents Counsel Romesh de Silva appearing for the defendant argued that the petitioners had levelled a baseless allegation against his client.

Mr de Silva pointed out that the petitioners had not named the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) as a respondent despite knowing that Mr Rajapaksa is the SLPP's presidential candidate.

Civil rights activists Professor Chandragupta Thenuwara and Gamini Viyangoda petitioned court arguing that Mr Rajapaksa's dual citizenship certificate issued after obtaining Sri Lankan citizenship in 2005 was invalid.

The Criminal Investigations Department previously told the court that the Immigration Department had informed them that dual citizenship matters had been handled by the Defence Ministry in 2005.

However, the petitioners claimed that the certificate had been issued by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa when a cabinet of ministers had not been functioning.

Mr Rajapaksa's lawyers counter-argued that former President Rajapaksa who was the Executive President at that time could exercise the powers of ministers when a cabinet was not functioning.

The case is being heard before a judge bench comprising Appeal Court President Yasantha Kodagoda, Arjuna Obeysekera, and Mahinda Samayawardana for the third day today.