In Sri Lanka, the court of appeal has unanimously dismissed the petitions challenging the citizenship of Presidential candidate and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The decision was delivered this evening after a three-day continuous hearing on the case, heating up the political atmosphere as Gotabaya, brother of former President Mahinda Rajapksa is the main opposition candidate for Presidential elections scheduled for 16th of next month.

The petitioners had alleged that the citizenship certificate issued to Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa is not a valid document before the law and thus he is not eligible to contest the elections.

Earlier, Mahinda’s elder brother Chamal Rajapksa had submitted security deposit this afternoon as an independent candidate for the elections, to cope up with an adverse judgement.

Mr Gotabaya renounced a dual US citizenship this year to contest for the Presidential polls.

In another decision, country’s Supreme Court today dismissed a petition challenging the holding of Presidential elections on the ground that the current President has a six-year term.