An indictment revived, a new remand, and a landmark pardon ruling led a busy week in the files.
Between 7 and 13 September 2026, Nadu recorded six developments across six separate cases - a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated a former president's 2019 pardon, an indictment that revived a case closed a year earlier, a new arrest and remand, and three further court hearings and statements. Here is what mattered, and what's on the court calendar next.
The Supreme Court ruled that former President Maithripala Sirisena acted arbitrarily and unconstitutionally in granting a 2019 presidential pardon to Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, invalidating the pardon. This is a constitutional/fundamental-rights judgment, not a criminal conviction against Sirisena.
Read full updateThe Court of Appeal took up a contempt-related referral against Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila over remarks made during a July 2026 satyagraha, and ordered its Registrar to take further procedural steps.
Janaka Nishantha Ratnayake, former Mayor of the Bandarawela Municipal Council, was arrested and later remanded until 16 September 2026 over an investigation into alleged financial fraud and forged documents at the council.
Duminda Dissanayake was indicted before the Colombo High Court over the 2025 gold-plated T-56 firearm discovery, after the case was reopened following his earlier discharge, and was released on bail the same day.
A separate Central Bank bond-scam prosecution against Ravi Karunanayake and 10 others, concerning the 29 March 2016 bond auction, was adjourned after the Colombo High Court found its Permanent Trial-at-Bar bench was not fully constituted.
Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa attended the Financial Crimes Investigation Division and recorded a statement about the 2006 MiG-27 aircraft procurement, in which investigators allege nearly US$7 million was misappropriated. No arrest, charge, or indictment was reported.
Former Bandarawela Mayor Janaka Nishantha Ratnayake arrested and remanded over alleged municipal financial fraud · 9 September 2026
Duminda Dissanayake indicted over gold-plated T-56 firearm case, released on bail · 10 September 2026
A preview of confirmed upcoming appearances - not every hearing on the calendar, just the ones most relevant to this week’s developments.
one week, curated, not exhaustive
