Lankan court issues arrest warrant against Arjuna Ranatunaga

Colombo, Jan 17 (PTI) A Sri Lankan court today issueda warrant to arrest against the former Sri lankan World Cupwinning cricket captain and parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga.

The Galle magistrate court issued the warrant afterRanatunaga failed to appear in court today to testify in acase involving damage to public property during ademonstration held last year.

His lawyers said that the legendary cricketer couldn''tappear before the court today because he is out of thecountry.

47-year old Ranatunga led the Sri Lankan cricket teamwhich won the cricket world cup in 1996 and later became amember of parliament from the ruling party.

He joined the opposition Democratic National Alliancein the lead upto last year''s presidential election pledgingsupport to the now jailed former army commander SarathFonseka.