Court to rule on Gota travel ban on 25 Nov.

Thursday, 5 November 2026 06:58 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa

The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday fixed 25 November to rule on the overseas travel ban imposed on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) told court there were concerns over whether Rajapaksa would return to Sri Lanka if permitted to travel abroad.

The CID said it would not object to lifting the ban provided adequate legal safeguards were in place to secure his return, and that it would oppose foreign travel in the absence of such measures.

The Magistrate then observed that, as the former President has not been named a suspect in the case, the court lacked the authority to issue an order compelling his return to the island once the ban is lifted.