Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has filed a writ petition before the Court of Appeal seeking an order preventing his arrest in connection with ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

The petition has named the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Shani Abeysekara, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Special Investigation Unit of the CID, Madhava Gunawardena and the Attorney General as respondents as respondents.

The petition has been filed after a June 3 order by the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court imposing an overseas travel ban on former President Rajapaksa and two military intelligence officers in relation to the Easter Sunday attacks investigation.

According to the petition, the former President became aware through media reports of the travel ban and has since received information suggesting a risk of arrest or loss of personal liberty.

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his petition states that he has no connection to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks and states that no investigative authority has thus far recorded a statement from him regarding the matter. He has said that he remains willing to cooperate with investigators and provide a statement whenever required.

Former President Rajapaksa further alleges that CID Director Shani Abeysekara, who is overseeing the investigation, may be unable to conduct the inquiry impartially due to recommendations made against him by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Political Victimization established during his term as the Head of State.

The petition argues that this circumstance could create a perception of bias and influence the conduct of the investigation.

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also has noted that neither previous commissions of inquiry nor the Supreme Court's determinations relating to the Easter Sunday attacks have made any findings against him.

The former President has requested the Court of Appeal to call for reports submitted by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed by former President Maithripala Sirisena, the Parliamentary Select Committee that examined the attacks, and the Commission appointed to investigate allegations raised in a Channel 4 documentary.

He has also sought an interim order restraining the respondents from arresting or detaining him in connection with the investigation until the Court of Appeal reaches a final determination on the petition.