Appeals Court dismisses ex-President Gotabaya's writ petition against arrest over Easter attacks probe

The Court of Appeal dismissed in limine a writ petition submitted by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa requesting an order preventing his potential arrest or detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

The legal challenge had been filed in connection with ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks and whether intelligence oversights occurred during his tenure in defense and political authority.

The appellate judges refused to take up the matter for substantive arguments, ruling that the petition lacked viable legal grounds at this preliminary stage to prohibit law enforcement authorities from discharging their statutory duties.