Former Minister Duminda Dissanayake has been released on bail by the Colombo High Court 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 today (10) when the case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga.

The judge ordered both accused to be released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 each, with two surety bails of Rs. 2 million each.

The case has been fixed for a pre-trial conference on 2 October.

The Attorney General has filed charges against Dissanayake and the other accused over the alleged possession of the firearm without a valid licence and aiding and abetting the offence.