Travel Ban on Ex-PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and 16 others.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Fort Magistrate's Court on Thursday (12) issued a travel ban on on Ex-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, MP Namal Rajapaksa, MP Johnston Fernando and 14 others.

They are barred from traveling overseas due to the investigations taking place on the attacks on the GotaGoGama and MynaGoGama peaceful protest sites on Monday (9).

The Attorney General had requested for a travel ban on the 17 individuals citing that they need to be present in Sri Lanka for the investigations on the attacks on GotaGoGama and MynaGogama as it appears that they conspired and planned those attacks.

The 17 individuals who are barred from traveling overseas are:

Ex-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa

Namal Rajapaksa

Pavithra Wanniarachchi

Johnston Fernando

Sanjeewa Edirimanne

Rohitha Abeygunawardena

C. B. Ratnayake

Sanath Nishantha

Kanchana Jayaratne

Sampath Athukorala

Mahinda Kahandagama

Renuka Perera

Nishantha Abeysinghe

Amitha Abeywickrama

Pushpalal Kumarasinghe

Dilip Fernando

Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon

The Magistrate also imposed a travel ban on seven other people who were either injured from the attacks or were eye-witnesses to the attacks.

The Attorney General noted that the witnesses must remain in Sri Lanka for future investigation.

The Criminal Investigations Department on Thursday (12) also submitted a progress report on the investigations.

President's Counsel Saliya Pieris who was in court to observe the investigation process, at the request of the Inspector General of Police, told the court that the police must immediately arrest the suspects who are linked to the crime and conspiracy without delay.

President's Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne who appeared on behalf of the protestors noted that it was observed that Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon was seen enaged in a conversation with MP Sanath Nishantha.

Upon considering the submissions, the Magistrate ordered the Criminal Investigations Department to report the progress on the investigations on the 25th of May.