October 29, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo High Court has refused to grant bail to notorious underworld figure Nandun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, widely known as ‘Harak Kata’, and two other defendants, leaving their applications unsuccessful at this stage of the proceedings.
The decision was delivered today (29) by Colombo High Court Judge Buddhika C. Ragala. The three defendants had sought release on bail, with legal representatives appearing on behalf of the two other individuals to press for their clients’ release.
However, the judge ruled that the applications could not be considered while a related legal challenge remained pending before the Court of Appeal.
In explaining the decision, the court noted that the Attorney General had already lodged an appeal against an earlier order issued by the High Court. That development prevented the bail requests from being taken up for consideration at the present stage.
Wickramaratne, who is being held at Welisara Prison, will therefore remain in custody following the rejection of the applications. The court’s decision also means that the two other defendants will not secure release through their current bail requests.
