Court lifts travel ban on Gotabaya and 7 others

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today lifted the overseas travel ban on former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and 7 others over the Avant Garde case, with conditions. 

When the case filed against them, for unlawfully authorizing the establishing of a floating armoury, was taken up at court today the attorney representing the defendants caught court approval for them to travel overseas.  

The magistrate approved the request, however stated that they should notify the registrar of the Colombo magistrates court and the bribery commission.

The Commission to Investigate into Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had filed a case against Rajapaksa and the 7 others for causing a loss of Rs 11.4 billion to the state through the illegal establishment of a floating armory in the port of Galle. 

Notice was issue on Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Additional Secretary of the State Ministry of Defence Damayanthi Jayaratne, Major General Palitha Fernando, Major General K.B. Egodawela, former Navy Commanders Admiral Somathilake Dissanayake, Admiral Jayanath Colombage, Admiral Jayantha Perera and Avant Garde Chairman retired Major General Nissanka Senadhipathi.  

The armory’s operation through a private company was alleged to have been in violation of law when the Sri Lankan Navy ought to have been the agency to carry out the operation.