Colombo High Court today observed that the former Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage had overstepped his authority by granting bail to Tissa Attanayake during the magisterial inquiry into the charges regarding the alleged preparation of a forged document.

This observation was made when the bail application of Attanayake was heard by the High Court.

It was noted that a magistrate cannot grant bail to a suspect in a case where charges are filed under the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights Act. Attanayake has been charged under this act, and his bail application had to be filed at the High Court.

However, the then Fort Magistrate had granted Attanayake bail in the case.

The High Court today refused to grant bail to Attanayake saying that there were no exceptional circumstances to do so. It was also observed that the court had been given erroneous information on the magisterial inquiry and the Government Analysts' Report.