Pastor Jerome leaves SL ahead of CID probe, says will return on Sunday

By the time the travel ban was imposed, the Pastor had already left the island 

• Immigration official said they had not received any orders to stop him from leaving

• Church leader says journey was planned earlier

• Pastor Jerome left aboard SQ469, bound for Singapore 

• BIA officials say that they cannot stop a passenger without a court order

By Susitha Fernando, Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana and Lakmal Sooriyagoda 

Hours after President Ranil Wickremesinghe ordered the Criminal Investigations Department to probe controversial Pastor Jerome Fernando over his derogatory remarks against Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism, Jerome left the island in the early hours of yesterday for Singapore, in what his office said was a ‘pre-planned’ visit.  

As reports of him ‘fleeing’ the country were reported, immigration and airport authorities remained clueless on whether the Pastor had exited, as there was no arrest warrant or travel ban issued against him as of last morning.  

 Sources said that Pastor Jerome left aboard SQ469, bound for Singapore at 12.15 am while the Department of Immigration and Emigration confirmed they were not aware that Pastor Jerome Fernando had left the country nor did they receive any order at that time to stop him from leaving, over any investigation.   

A senior Immigration official said they had not received any orders from the top to stop him from leaving the country if he decided to do so.   

The official said any law enforcement agency stationed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) including the Immigration Dept, the CID, Police Narcotic Bureau, State Intelligence Service or Customs cannot stop a passenger from leaving the country without a court order.   

With the government going on alert that the Pastor had already left, the Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage issued an order on Tuesday evening preventing Pastor Jerome from leaving the country over the incident where he had allegedly made statements that were detrimental to religious harmony in the country.   

The Magistrate made this order after considering a request made by the Criminal Investigation Department stating that they had initiated an investigation against the Pastor who had made irresponsible statements, hurting the sentiments of religious communities. 

 
The Magistrate ordered the Immigration authorities to immediately inform the CID if the suspect attempts to leave the country, but this was too late as by the time the order was issued, the Pastor had already left the island.   

As the hours passed and reports circulated that Pastor Jerome had fled ahead of the CID probe against him, a spokesman for Glorious Church led by Jerome Fernando denied that the Pastor had fled the country and said he had left to attend an event.   

“We have various events in other countries. This is a journey that was planned earlier,” Ryan Perera, a leader of Glorious Church said. However, he refused to reveal the country to which the Pastor had left for.   

As the heat built up against Pastor Jerome, flyers began circulating on social media that he had planned a ‘meet and greet’ with his followers in Malaysia on May 19 and another one in Singapore on May 21.  

The flyers called on his followers and those interested to register for the event which was ‘free’.   

Pastor Jerome later took to social media himself, saying he will be back home on Sunday.   

“As you are all aware, I am presently travelling on pre-scheduled official matters pertaining to the Ministry and will be back home on Sunday. Looking forward to Sri Lanka. Love you all,” the Pastor said.   

• The official said any law enforcement agency stationed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) including the Immigration Dept, the CID, Police Narcotic Bureau, State Intelligence Service or Customs cannot stop a passenger from leaving the country without a court order

Political hand behind Jerome?

Nirashan Withanage, Spokesperson of the Sarva Pakshika Aragalakaruwo organization lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) against the inflammatory comments made by Pastor Jerome Fernando.   “We have serious doubts if there is a political hand behind the self-proclaimed prophet’s comments. These comments remind us of the sinister conspiracies to elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa,” he said.