Dec 02, Colombo: Gampaha High Court Judge Nimal Ranaweera Wednesday (02) lifted the travel ban imposed on former Minister Basil Rajapaksa by the Gampaha High Court.

The Attorney General had filed charges against former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Thirukumar Nadesan in the Gampaha High Court accusing of embezzling government funds by purchasing land in the Malwana area in Dompe and constructing a huge house and a swimming pool there.

The travel ban was one of the bail conditions in that case.

President’s Counsel DAP Weeraratne today (02) filed a motion in the Gampaha High Court seeking the lifting of the travel ban imposed in the case as his client, former Minister Basil Rajapaksa has been appointed as the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revitalization and Poverty Alleviation by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and has to travel abroad for official duties.

President’s Counsel DAP Weeraratne, who appeared for former Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the time of the hearing, also produced before the High Court a copy of the gazette notification regarding the appointment of former Minister Basil Rajapaksa to the post.

Gampaha High Court Judge Nimal Ranaweera lifted the travel ban on Basil Rajapaksa on the condition of appearing before the Gampaha High Court on March 12, 2021 and further directed the Gampaha High Court Registrar to inform the Controller of Immigration and Emigration of lifting the travel ban.

The accused in the case, former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Thirukumar Nadesan, did not appear before the Gampaha High Court today (02) and were ordered to appear before the Gampaha High Court on March 12 next year.