Former Minister Duminda Dissanayake was released on bail by the Colombo High Court yesterday (10) after being indicted in connection with the alleged possession of a gold-plated firearm without a valid licence.

Dissanayake and a Kazakhstani national were formally served with indictments when the case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga. The two accused appeared before Court in response to notices previously issued by the Court, following which the indictments filed by the Attorney General (AG) were handed over to them in open Court.

Following the filing of the indictments, the Judge ordered that both accused be released on a cash bail of Rs 50,000 each, with two surety bails of Rs 2 million each.

The Court also ordered that the biometrics of both accused be obtained and a report submitted. The case was fixed for a pre-trial conference on 2 October.

The AG has filed charges against Dissanayake and the other accused over the alleged possession of a gold-plated firearm without a valid licence, as well as aiding and abetting the offence.

The firearm, identified in previous proceedings as a gold-plated T-56 assault rifle, was allegedly found at an apartment complex in Wellawatte on 20 May 2025. Dissanayake was arrested in connection with the firearm in May last year and was subsequently released from the case in July 2025 after the Magistrate found that there was insufficient evidence to proceed against him.

However, the Attorney General later directed that Dissanayake be re-named as a suspect following further investigations and the review of additional evidence. The Attorney General’s Department subsequently informed the Court that indictments would be filed against him in the High Court.