Attorney-at-law Gunaratne Wanninayake, who was reportedly being sought by the police for arrest, was released on bail this evening (15) after appearing before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court.

The Magistrate ordered two surety bails of Rs. 500,000 each and imposed strict bail conditions on the suspect lawyer.

Earlier, Wanninayake had filed a writ petition through his lawyers before the Court of Appeal seeking an order preventing his arrest. The Inspector General of Police, the Officer-in-Charge of the Mount Lavinia Police, and several others were named as respondents in the petition.

During the hearing of the petition today, President’s Counsel Faisz Musthapha, appearing on behalf of Wanninayake, informed the Court of Appeal that his client was prepared to appear before the Magistrate’s Court.

Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya noted that the Court could not grant the interim relief requested to prevent Wanninayake’s arrest and that it would be more appropriate for the matter to be addressed by the Magistrate’s Court.