Sri Lankan court rejects legal challenge over presidential candidate's citizenship

COLOMBO, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Sri Lankan court on Friday dismissed a legal case challenging presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa's Sri Lankan citizenship, thereby allowing him to contest the upcoming presidential polls.

A three-judge bench at the Court of Appeal unanimously rejected the case that challenged the legality of Rajapaksa's citizenship which he obtained back in 2005.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa is the brother of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and served as the secretary of defense in the previous government.

He was selected as the presidential candidate from the Sri Lanka Podujana Party led by Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka will hold the presidential election on Nov. 16.