Manusha withdraws Supreme Court petition on CID arrest

Tuesday, 20 January 2026 05:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara

A Fundamental Rights petition filed by former MP Manusha Nanayakkara seeking to prevent the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from arresting him over investigations into the alleged E8 visa agreements with South Korea was withdrawn before the Supreme Court yesterday.

The former MP, through his counsel, sought the permission of the Supreme Court to withdraw the application.

A three-judge bench comprising Justice S. Thurairaja, Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz, and Justice Priyantha Fernando granted permission to withdraw the application, and the matter was accordingly dismissed.

Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General Lakmali Karunanayake, appearing for the Director of the CID, had filed limited objections challenging the maintainability of the application. In his petition, former Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara had named the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director of the CID, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), Attorney General, and several others as respondents.

Saliya Pieris, PC, together with Danushka Rahubadda and Jagadeesha Ranasinghe, instructed by Praveen Premathilaka, appeared for the petitioner. Additional Solicitor General Karunanayake, PC, appeared for the respondents.