Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, his politician son Namal and 15 allies were banned from leaving the island country by a local court Thursday over acts of violence against anti-government demonstrators.
The magistrate court in capital Columbo also ordered the police force to investigate Monday’s mob attacks on peaceful protesters. The mob attacks led to retaliatory violence that resulted in loss of nine lives and further widespread destruction.
A court official told AFP that a petition had also asked for an arrest warrant against Rajapaksa and his associates.
“But the magistrate turned it down because police anyway have powers to detain any suspect,” the official said.
Rajapaksa and key aides, as per victim’s of Monday violence, had bussed around 3,000 of their supporters into the capital. The former PM and his associates allegedly incited these supporters to attack peaceful protesters.
The mobs loyal to Rajapaksas came out of his residence and attacked anti-government demonstrators with sticks and clubs. These actions led to hospitalisation of around 255 protestors, Buddhist monks and Catholic priests.
The fire of vengeance soon spread across the country, resulting into houses of Rajapaksa loyalists being set on fire.
Mahinda Rajapaksa has resigned and had to be evacuated from his home by heavily armed troops.
The former Sri Lankan premier is now taking shelter at a naval facility in the east of the island nation.
On Tuesday, his son Namal told AFP that his family had no intention of leaving the country.
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