We have a plan B and C as well : A J M Muzammil

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Gotabaya Rajapaksa filed a motion with the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar today (October 01) seeking permission to travel to Singapore for medical reasons from October 9th to 12th. The matter was postponed to Thursday for the Attorney General to announce his views on Rajapaksa's request. A case was filed with the Permanent Hight Court Trial-at-Bar against 07 defendants including Gotabaya Rajapaksa for alleged misappropriation of public funds for the construction of the D.A. Rajapaksa Memorial and Museum. However, the trial at the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar was temporarily suspended following an interim order issued by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court once again considering the Rajapaksa's appeal today suspended the examination of witness statements until October 14th and the appeal will be taken up for examination on October 11th. When the Supreme Court issued the order preventing the trial to proceed, the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar had already imposed an overseas travel ban on Gotabaya Rajapaksa and impounded his passport. Today, counsel for Rajapaksa requested the court to release the passport as it is a necessary document to prove Sri Lankan Citizenship because his client is to submit his nomination for the Presidential Election. The Senior State Counsel appearing for the Attorney General said though there are no objections towards the request being made, the relevant reports on obtaining medical treatment have not been produced. He, therefore, requested the motion be called on Thursday to announce the views of the Attorney General. Meanwhile, another petition connected to Presidential Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be taken up for consideration at the Court of Appeal tomorrow(October 02). The petition was filed by Professor Chandragupta Thenuwara and Gamini Viyangoda seeking a stay order on recognizing Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a citizen of Sri Lanka. The petition noted the dual citizenship document presented to Gotabaya Rajapsksa on the 21st of November 2005 is either illegal or fake. The petitioners requested an order to be issued to prevent Gotabaya Rajapaksa from being accepted as a Sri Lankan Citizen until the petition is taken up for examination and a verdict is delivered. The petitioners claim the dual citizenship certificate obtained by Rajapaksa had not fulfilled the legal requirements. Earlier, the petitioners filed a complaint with Police Headquarters on the matter and consequently, following their investigations CID produced information gathered at the court on a number of occasions. A writ application was filed with the Court of Appeal along with copies of the B reports filed with the court by the CID. The matter will be taken up in the presence of Court of Appeal President Justice Yasantha Kodagoda and Justices Arjuna Obeysekera and Mahinda Samayawardena. Meanwhile, a number of journalists questioned several members of SLPP whether Gotabya Rajapaksa's candidacy will be challenged due to the existing crisis over his alleged dual citizenship. Basil Rajapaksa, National Organizer of SLPP and UPFA MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa stated that they have their utmost confidence in their lawyers regarding the matter. However, Propaganda Secretary of the NFF, A. J. M. Muzammil added that they are equipped not only with Plan B but also with Plan C as well.