Lanka Ex-PM Mahinda Rajapaksa Barred From Leaving Country

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has restrained former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa from leaving the country without the court’s permission until July 28. The interim order was issued in response to a Fundamental Rights petition filed against the duo as well as former finance secretary SR Atygalle and former central bank governors WD Lakshman and Ajith Nivard Cabraal. The petition has been filed by Sri Lankan swimmer and coach Julian Bolling, former chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chandra Jayaratne, Transparency International and entrepreneur Jehan Canaga Retna. The petitioners have sought legal action against those responsible for financial irregularities and mismanagement of the Sri Lanka economy. The petition says some of the respondents may leave the country and thereby avoid giving information sought by the petitioners and consequently prevent a proper investigation, as reported by Daily Mirror.