Court to rule on Rajapaksa travel ban lifting bid November 25

The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court has scheduled a hearing for November 25 to determine whether to remove the travel restrictions currently placed on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The former president made an appearance before the court on November 4 to petition for the lifting of the ban.

The travel ban was imposed as part of ongoing investigations connected to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, which killed more than 260 people in coordinated suicide bombings at churches and hotels across the country. The restrictions have prevented Rajapaksa from leaving Sri Lanka while authorities examine his administration's handling of intelligence and security matters related to the bombings.

Rajapaksa's legal team has argued that the continued restrictions are unjustified, prompting the court to schedule the November 25 hearing to review the merits of the request. The decision carries significant implications for the former president, who has faced multiple legal challenges since leaving office in 2022 amid civil unrest and economic crisis.