Namal Rajapaksa prevented from boarding a flight to USA

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Joint Opposition MP, Namal Rajapaksa was denied entry to an Emirates flight from Moscow to the United States, earlier today. However, no clear reasons were given. The MP was traveling to the United States following his tenure as an independent election observer at the Russian presidential election, where Vladimir Putin won a 4th term in Russia's big seat. Foreign media reported that the MP's office issued a statement saying: “There is no explanation from US Embassies in Moscow or Colombo on the same. He had a valid visa.” The MP issued a tweet stating the following: “Emirates Air #Moscow informs I won’t make my Houston Flight as #US officials instruct them to not let me onboard. Valid reason yet to be received. US has the sovereign right of course. Sure it has nothing to do with my name, being part of #lka opposition or my travel from #Russia.”  

Emirates Air #Moscow informs I won’t make my Houston Flight as #US Officials instruct them to not let me board. Valid reason yet to be received. US has the Sovereign right of course. Sure it has nothing to do with my name,being part of #lka opposition or my travel from #Russia ?

— Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) March 21, 2018