Lawyers for former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa informed the Sri Lankan Supreme Court that they will not flee the island until the Fundamental Rights petition filed against them has been heard.
A petition has been filed seeking an order restraining several figures from the Rajapaksa regime from fleeing the island. Among those listed are Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, former Central Bank governers Ajith Nivard Cabral and W D Lakshman, and former secretary SR Attygalle.
The petitioners are also seeking legal action against individuals responsible for the current economic crisis that has devastated the nation.
Basil Rajapaksa attempted to flee the island on 12 July but was stopped by immigration officials. The former finance minister is widely viewed as responsible for facilitating the economic crisis.
Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from his position as Prime Minister on 9 May due to mass protests during which mobs attacked peaceful protesters. As a part of an investigation on these attacks Sri Lanka’s Fort Magistrate’s Court issued a travel ban on Mahinda Rajapaksa and several others.
Previously, the former Prime Minister has sought refuge in the heavily militarized Tamil North-East.
Brother to Mahinda and Basil Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has already fled to Singapore where he formally resigned as Sri Lanka’s President.
Both Mahinda and Gotabya Rajapaksa stand accused of countless human rights abuses. The brothers are suspected architects of war crimes that took place during armed conflict resulting in the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamils.
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