Sri Lanka top court extends travel ban on Mahinda and Basil Rajapaksa until Aug 4 - Ada Derana

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has extended a travel ban imposed on former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother, ex-minister Basil Rajapaksa, until Aug. 4 as they were named respondents in a case filed over the economic crisis, Ada Derana news website reported on Monday.

On July 15, Sri Lanka’s apex court had barred both the brothers of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from leaving the country without permission until July 28, anti-corruption group Transparency International Sri Lanka said.

But on July 27, the court had extended the ban until Aug. 2.

Mahinda resigned in May, thus ending his son Yoshith's stint as chief of staff. His other son, Namal, elder brother Chamal and younger brothers Basil and Shasheendra quit as ministers in April.

Former finance minister Basil, who also holds U.S. citizenship, was stopped at the airport from fleeing the country by immigration officials wary of the public response if he had been allowed to leave.