Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal ruled on Saturday on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's petition seeking to block his arrest, after he appeared in person before the court in Colombo this week.

Rajapaksa, who fled the country during the 2022 economic crisis and mass protests before returning, has faced mounting legal pressure from investigations into decisions made during his presidency. His lawyers argued that any arrest would be unlawful and politically motivated.

The petition follows a broader effort by anti-corruption bodies and the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to pursue accountability for figures linked to the country's financial collapse. State prosecutors opposed the request, maintaining that investigators must be permitted to proceed without interim protection for the former leader.

A ruling in Rajapaksa's favour would grant him temporary relief from detention, while a rejection could clear the way for investigators to act. The case has drawn close attention in Sri Lanka, where the once-dominant Rajapaksa family remains a deeply divisive political force.

The Court of Appeal had the option to reserve its order, extend interim relief, or dismiss the petition outright.