Sri Lanka, Jan. 29 -- Justice Amal Ranaraja withdrew from the five-judge bench hearing the petition filed by former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda, who seeks to quash the case filed by the Attorney General over the abduction and disappearance of 11 youths in Colombo in 2008.

The petition was taken up before the Court of Appeal bench. During the proceedings, Justice Ranaraja announced his decision to recuse himself.

Following his withdrawal, the case is set to be heard before a newly appointed five-member bench on January 31.

Karannagoda argues that the Attorney General's decision to name him as a defendant in the case before the Colombo High Court is unlawful and has requested a writ of certiorari from the Court of Appeal to nulli...