Court issues interim order restraining arrest of Tiran Alles and others

02-Oct-2026

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The Court of Appeal has issued an interim order restraining the Inspector General of Police from arresting former Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, along with directors and employees of a private newspaper company.

The order was issued after the court considered a writ petition filed by the private newspaper company.

The petitioner had sought an order preventing the arrest of Tiran Alles and the company's directors and employees in connection with investigations initiated following a complaint concerning a commercial transaction.

The petitioner informed the court that the company had purchased paper from LPL Kesara Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. However, following Tiran Alles's resignation as Public Security Minister, difficulties arose in encashing several post-dated cheques issued in connection with the paper purchase. Kesara Lanka (Pvt) Ltd subsequently lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department.

The petition stated that the CID had commenced an investigation into the complaint and had submitted relevant information to the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court.

The petitioner contended that the dispute was purely civil in nature, arising from a commercial transaction, and that treating it as a criminal matter and conducting an investigation on that basis was unlawful.

The court issued the interim order following the petitioner's request to restrain the authorities from proceeding with arrests in connection with the investigation.