Sri Lanka bans ex-PM, allies from leaving country

COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan court on Thursday banned former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, his politician son Namal and 15 allies from leaving the country over violence against anti-government demonstrators.Monday's mob attacks on peaceful protestersA petition to the court had also asked for an arrest warrant against Rajapaksa and his associates, a court official told AFP.

"But the magistrate turned it down because police anyway have powers to detain any suspect," the official added. Victims of Monday's violence say that Rajapaksa and key aides had bussed around 3,000 of their supporters into the capital and instigated them to attack peaceful protesters. The loyalist mob poured out of his residence and assaulted anti-government demonstrators with sticks and clubs.Reprisals soon spread across the country, with dozens of homes of Rajapaksa loyalists set ablaze.The 76-year-old former leader is currently holed up at a naval facility in the east of the island nation.

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Many Sri Lankans flee Colombo as political leaders meet to seek solution to crisisCOLOMBO: Many Sri Lankans thronged buses in the main city Colombo on Thursday (May 12) to return to their hometowns with leaders of political parties due to meet after the prime minister quit and went i
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Sri Lanka president warns of racial tensions amid economic crisis
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »

Shoot-on-sight orders in Sri Lanka after deadly violence
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »

EU urges all parties in Sri Lanka to 'refrain from violence'
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »

Shoot-on-sight orders issued to quell Sri Lanka riotsCOLOMBO: Sri Lanka's defence ministry on Tuesday (May 10) ordered troops to shoot on sight people involved in looting or damaging property, a day after mobs targeted the homes of ruling-party politicians.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Sri Lanka gives emergency powers to military, police after clashes kill 7COLOMBO — Sri Lanka gave emergency powers on Tuesday (May 10) to its military and police to detain people without warrants, after a day of clashes that killed seven people and injured more than 200, in violence that prompted Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign. As the Indian Ocean nation battles its worst economic crisis in history, thousands of protesters...
Source: asiaonecom - 🏆 10. / 59 Read more »