Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, and former Finance Ministry Secretary S. R. Attygalle’s attorneys have informed the Supreme Court that they will remain in the country until tomorrow.
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) and three others have filed a motion seeking interim measures to restrict the international travel of six respondents, including former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal.
The petition by TISL, Chandra Jayaratne, Jehan CanagaRetna, and Julian Bolling asserts that the petition’s respondents are directly responsible for Sri Lanka’s unsustainable foreign debt, and its default on foreign loan repayments, and its current economic state.
Today, while providing an update on the court proceedings, TISL reported that Ajith Nivard Cabraal’s attorney informed the court that he is subject to two previous court orders restricting his international travel.
They added that Cabraal has no intention of traveling abroad without the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka’s permission.
TISL added that the petitioners’ counsel informed the court that Basil Rajapaksa attempted to leave the country on Monday evening after this motion was filed.
Counsel for the Petitioners asked the court to impose travel restrictions, arguing that if the Respondents left, even if the Petitioners won the case, they would be left with “an empty piece of paper” because there would be no one to enforce the Court’s orders.
Due to the curfew, the attorney for Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basila Rajapaksa, and Attygalle informed the court that none of the three Respondents would leave the country until tomorrow (15) at midday.
According to Transparency International Sri Lanka, the petition will be heard again tomorrow.
