Motion filed in SC seeking interim order to prevent MR, BR and others leaving country

• Motion filed pursuant to FR petition filed by TISL and several others
• Motion fixed for support on 14 July

A motion was filed in the Supreme Court yesterday seeking an interim order restraining former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, former Central Bank Governors Ajith Nivard Cabraal, W.D. Lakshman and former Secretary to the Ministry of Finance S.R. Attygalle from leaving the country without the prior approval of the Court.

This motion had been filed pursuant to a Fundamental Rights petition filed by Sri Lankan swimmer and coach Julian Bolling, former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chandra Jayaratne, Transparency International Sri Lanka and Jehan Canaga Retna.

The petition claims that respondents named in the petition are directly responsible for the unsustainability of Sri Lanka’s foreign debt, its hard default on foreign loan repayments and the current state of the economy of Sri Lanka. The petition calls for the respondents to be held accountable for their illegal, arbitrary and unreasonable acts or omissions which culminated in the current economic crisis.

The Petitioners state they have reliable information that some of the above respondents may leave the country and thereby avoid giving information sought by the petitioners and consequently prevent proper investigation.

The petitioners requested that hearing into this motion be fixed for 14 July, since there is a grave urgency involved in the matter. On 6 July, the Supreme Court fixed this petition to be taken up for support on 27 July.

The Supreme Court agreed to take up the case on 14 July to hear submissions in support of the interim relief that is sought by the petitioners.