The Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing for November 19 to consider a bail petition filed by former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte. The petition was reviewed by a two-member bench, consisting of President of the Court of Appeal Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice Shashi Mahendran, earlier today.

The bench directed the petitioners to issue notices to the respondents, including the Inspector General of Police, to present their submissions on the scheduled date.

Lohan Ratwatte and his wife have been in remand since their arrest over allegations related to the illegal possession of a luxury car, which was found in their Mirihana residence. The vehicle, imported and assembled in Sri Lanka without proper registration, was discovered following a police tip-off. Ratwatte and his wife claimed the car had been brought to the property by his private secretary, who was later found dead under suspicious circumstances in Kandy.

The Nugegoda Magistrate's Court has remanded the couple until November 18.