The Court of Appeal has completed hearings on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's petition seeking protection from arrest in connection with Easter Sunday attack investigations, with a ruling expected on September 22.
The Court of Appeal concluded hearings on Monday regarding a writ petition filed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is attempting to obtain legal protection against potential arrest and detention related to investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
The court announced that it will deliver its decision on whether to grant permission for the petition to proceed on September 22, 2026. A two-member bench presided over the case and established a deadline for all written submissions to be filed by August 31.
The petition represents Rajapaksa's legal attempt to preempt any arrest action by authorities investigating the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, which killed hundreds of people in Sri Lanka in 2019. The former president has faced ongoing scrutiny and legal challenges since his departure from office, with multiple investigations initiated into various matters during his administration.
The September 22 ruling will determine whether the court finds merit in Rajapaksa's application and whether it will grant leave for the petition to be formally heard. Until then, the case remains in limbo as both sides prepare their final written arguments ahead of the August 31 deadline.
