• Fundamental Rights petitions filed against them to be heard today

 By Lakmal Sooriyagoda 

Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday gave an undertaking through their lawyers that they will not leave the country until the Fundamental Rights petitions filed against them are heard today (15).

President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana appearing for former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa gave this undertaking when a motion filed seeking an interim order restraining several respondents from leaving the country was taken up for support.

Meanwhile, counsel appearing for former Secretary to the Ministry of Finance S.R. Attygalle also gave an undertaking that his client will also not leave the country until today.

Former Central Bank Governor W.D. Lakshman was prevented from leaving the country until today since he was not represented by a lawyer.

Supreme Court five-judge-bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, Justice Vijith Malalgoda and Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya fixed the petitions for support for today.

In a motion, petitioners sought an interim relief preventing 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 Supreme Court.

This motion had been filed in connection with 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 and  Jehan Canaga Retna. In this petition, the petitioners are seeking an order to take legal action against those responsible for financial irregularities and mismanagement of the Sri Lanka economy. 
The petitioners maintained that they have been reliably informed 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 stated that irreparable loss, harm and prejudice would be caused to them and the citizens of Sri Lanka unless the interim relief sought in the application is granted.

The petitioners said due to this tax reduction, the country has suffered enormous and unprecedented economic damage and citizens are facing unprecedented economic hardship, with extreme levels of inflation causing the price of essential goods and services to increase at extreme rates.