Colombo High Court to announce on November 18 whether interim injunction will be issued in Namal Rajapaksa bail case

14-Nov-2026

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The Colombo High Court has announced that its decision on whether to issue an interim injunction suspending the bail order granted to MP Namal Rajapaksa by the Colombo Magistrate's Court in the Krish bribery transaction case will be delivered on November 18.

Colombo High Court Judge Lal Bandara made this order on 13 November 2026, when a revision application filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) challenging the bail order was taken up for hearing.

Appearing on behalf of the Commission, its Deputy Director General Tanuja Bandara made submissions before court.

She submitted that Colombo Chief Magistrate had ordered the release on bail of Namal Rajapaksa, who had been in remand custody in connection with the Krish transaction case, on November 3.

However, she argued that the bail order contained legal irregularities.

She further submitted that, under Section 149(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, the Commission had also submitted to court the relevant confirmation by its Director General against the suspect.

In such circumstances, the suspect should remain in remand custody until the conclusion of the trial. Bail could be granted only where special circumstances were established, she said.

According to the Commission, the Magistrate's decision to grant bail in this instance, relying on the exception relating to special circumstances, was contrary to the law.

She further submitted that, after the suspect had been remanded, two witnesses who had previously been reluctant to give evidence due to fear had appeared before the Commission without apprehension and provided statements.

She also informed court that Nimal Perera, a witness in the case, was currently living in Australia due to threats to his life.

The Commission expressed concern that the release of the suspect on bail could result in pressure being exerted on witnesses.

Accordingly, the Deputy Director General requested the High Court to issue an interim injunction suspending the bail order granted by the Colombo Magistrate's Court on November 3.

Appearing on behalf of Namal Rajapaksa, President's Counsel Ali Sabry strongly questioned the Commission's request for such interim relief.

He submitted that his client was still in remand custody and that the interim relief sought by the Commission was effectively identical to the final relief requested in the revision application.

He further argued that the Supreme Court had, in previous judgements, held that the final relief sought in an application could not be granted in the form of an interim injunction before the conclusion of the proceedings.

President's Counsel Sabry also questioned the Magistrate's decision to consider the heart condition of the suspect's mother as a special circumstance warranting bail.

He maintained that the Commission's application lacked a proper legal basis and requested the court to dismiss its request for an interim injunction.

After considering the submissions made by both parties, High Court Judge Lal Bandara directed that the court's decision on whether to issue the interim injunction would be announced on November 18.