The Colombo High Court has ordered to suspend the overseas travel ban imposed on former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, allowing him to travel overseas until March 17, 2023.

The foreign travel ban was imposed on the former Minister over the hit-and-run incident which took place in the year 2016, in which the vehicle the former Minister was travelling in had collided with a motorcycle in Rajagiriya, causing life-threatening injuries to its rider, Sandeep Sampath Gunawardena and the alleged fabrication of evidence related to the accident.

The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatte today (Oct 10).

President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanna, who appeared on behalf of the former Minister, requested the court to suspend the foreign travel ban imposed on the parliamentarian until the next court date since his client has been assigned a set of government responsibilities.

Deputy Solicitor General, Dileepa Peiris, who appeared for the Attorney General, did not object to the request made by the defence counsel.

Accordingly, the High Court Judge, who ordered the overseas travel ban to be suspended until March 17, 2023, further instructed that the order be communicated to the relevant authorities including the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.

The judge also ordered that the former minister will be allowed to travel overseas during this period and ordered that steps be taken to release his passport if the court has taken custody of it.

Accordingly, the case was ordered to be called once again on March 20, 2023.