May 12, Colombo: The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today ordered that 24 persons including former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa and Johnston Fernando be banned from traveling abroad in connection with the ongoing investigations into the attack on the protesters at the ‘Gota Go Gama’ in Galle Face and the ‘Maina Go Gama’ in Kollupitiya.

As a result of the investigation into this incident, 24 persons were barred from traveling abroad under sections 7 (77) and 127 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Section 5 (c) 1 of the Immigration and Emigration Act No. 16 of 1993.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage issued the order accepting a request made by Additional Solicitor General Ayesha Jinasena, who appeared for the Attorney General.

Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, former ministers Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Johnston Fernando, Namal Rajapaksa, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, CB Ratnayake and Sanath Nishantha, Sanjeewa Edirimanne, Kanchana Jayaratne, Sampath Athukorala, Renuka Perera, Samanlal Fernando, Mahinda Kahandagama, Rekah Kahandagama, MMTN Upuldeniya, Dan Priyasad, Sugath Hepapathirana, and Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon are among the 17 persons who were imposed with travel bans.

The magistrate also ordered travel bans on seven eyewitnesses.

The Magistrate ordered that the Controller of Immigration and Emigration be informed of the ban and that their passports be handed over to the court.