Feb 12, Colombo: A Sri Lankan court today granted former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, who is alleged of producing a forged document to media, permission to travel overseas.

When the case was taken up before the Colombo High Court Judge, Vicum Kaluarachchi today, President's Counsel Kalinga Indratissa appearing for Attanayake informed the court that the defense hopes to expedite the proceeding of the case.

Making submissions to the court, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris said that the prosecution needs time to study the relevant facts.

Accordingly, the High Court Judge advised the two lawyers to explain further the possibility of closing the case in a short time.

Accepting a request from the defense counsel, High Court Judge granted permission for Attanayake to travel abroad from February 14 to March 10.

According inly, the case will be taken up again on March 25.

The Attorney General on 9th September 2016 filed charges against Attanayake in the Colombo High Court on producing a document with forged signatures of the then common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena and the then opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe during the 2015 presidential election campaign.

The document was alleged to be a secret agreement between the UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the then common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

Attanayake was charged under the Presidential Elections Act for displaying the forged document to the media, thereby affecting the candidate Sirisena's presidential campaign.