Travel ban issued on Mahinda and Basil

The Supreme Court has issued a travel ban on former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

The ban will be in force till 28th July.

A motion had been filed in the Supreme Court seeking an overseas travel ban on Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa and former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

The motion sought an investigation to be carried out on the individuals responsible for the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, in line with a fundamental rights petition filed before the Supreme Court.

The fundamental rights petition was filed by a group including former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Chandra Jayaratne, former Sri Lanka swimming champion Julian Bolling, Jehan Kanagaratna and Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL).

Former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa was prevented from leaving Sri Lanka this morning following protests by passengers and officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Rajapaksa attempted to leave via the ‘Silk Route’ lounge at the BIA but was spotted by some passengers.

Videos circulating on social media showed the passengers raising objections and demanding that the former Finance Minister not be allowed to leave.

Eventually Immigration and Emigration officers in the ‘Silk Route’ lounge withdrew from operations as a mark of protest. (Colombo Gazette)