COLOMBO (News1st): Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, and seven others, filed a petition at the Court of Appeal today, requesting that they be discharged and released from the Avant Garde case.

The petition requests the Court of Appeal to issue an order suspending the order issued by the Colombo High Court, rejecting the revision application filed by the defendants.

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa went before the High Court as the initial objection filed by his lawyers was rejected by Colombo Chief Magistrate.

The case has been filed against Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, and seven others, on charges of causing the government a loss of Rs. 11.4 billion after approval was given for Avant Garde to run a floating armoury.

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