Overseas travel ban on Cabraal further extended

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda 
The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s court yesterday further extended its order preventing ex-Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal from leaving the country until May 2.

On April 7, the court issued notices directing Cabraal to appear in court yesterday. However, Cabraal was not present in court; he was represented by senior counsel Jeewantha Jayatillake.  Jayatillake submitted to court that the previous court order does not require his client to be present in court since the lawyer is appearing for the respondent.

Taking into consideration the facts, Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala ordered to reissue notices on the former Central Bank governor to appear in court on May 2. The court made this order pursuant to a request made by former Southern Province Governor Rajith Keerthi Thennakoon, through a private plaint filed in terms of Section 136(1)(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act.

Meanwhile, the court rejected an application made by President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, requesting to impose travel ban on former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle, since they could be named as witnesses in the case against Ajith Nivard Cabraal for paying millions of dollars pertaining to a sovereign bond settlement on January 18, 2022. 
The petitioner said Cabraal is responsible for the country’s crippling economic crisis since he took measures to settle a US $ 500 million sovereign bond.

The petitioner stated that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka had incurred losses between Rs.10.4-10.6 billion from 2005 to 2015 to the Sri Lanka government, while Cabraal was the head of the Central Bank. 
The petitioner alleged Cabraal has committed a punishable offence under Section 388 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust. The petitioner further alleged that the former governor is liable for committing offences under the Registered Stock and Securities Ordinance.

President’s Counsel Maithree Goonaratne, counsel Ashan Nanayakkara, Iresh Seneviratne and Chan Godakumbura appeared for the complainant.