Ganiya Bannister Francis, a Swiss Embassy employee facing criminal charges in the Colombo High Court for allegedly making a false claim that she had been abducted and sexually harassed, filed preliminary objections challenging the maintainability of the charges.

Ganiya Bannister has been accused of giving false information to embarrass the Sri Lankan government and fabricating evidence in her abduction claim. The Attorney General had filed an indictment against Ganiya Bannister Francis for fabricating false evidence to the effect that on or around November 25, 2019, five people in a white vehicle abducted her in the Cinnamon Gardens area in Colombo, threatened her with a firearm, detained her for several hours and questioned her about CID former Inspector Nishantha Silva, who had fled the country. President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa, appearing on behalf of the accused, raised preliminary objections challenging the maintainability of the charges filed under sections 189 and 190 of the Penal Code. High Court Judge Namal Balalle fixed the case to be taken up for hearing on November 8. The parties were directed to file their written submissions before the next hearing date. Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara appeared for the Attorney General.