Former Minister Rajitha Senaratne's anticipatory bail application has been rejected by the Colombo Chief Magistrate.

Senaratne appeared before the court today in relation to the anticipatory bail application seeking to prevent his possible arrest.

Senaratne filed an anticipatory bail application with the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court in order to prevent his arrest regarding the controversial media briefing on white vans.

Several individuals, including the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), were cited as respondents.

This comes a day after the arrest of Patali Champika Ranawaka over an accident that took place in 2016.

Two men, who appeared alongside Senaratne at the "white van" press conference, have been arrested by the Police.

It is widely speculated that Senaratne too is likely to be arrested over the same investigation.