Misuse of SLTB buses during the Presidential election: Magistrate orders the release of Rishad Bathiudeen and two others.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court has ordered the release of Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen and two others from a case filed over the misuse of SLTB buses to transport internally displaced persons from Puttalam to Silavathurai during the 2019 Presidential Election.

Magistrate Thilina Gamage ordered to release the suspects following the Attorney General's advice not to proceed with legal action against the suspects.

Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, the director of the IDP project Mohomed Yaseen Samsudeen, and the project accountant Alagarathnam Manoranjan were accused of violating the provisions of the Presidential Election Act, No. 15 of 1981, by misappropriating public funds.