Former SLPP Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara had already left Sri Lanka before an overseas travel ban was issued against him by the Supreme Court on Friday, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has informed the Attorney General’s Department.
The CID found that Jayasekara had departed for Thailand on August 31 while attempting to implement the travel restriction imposed by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court on Friday ordered Jayasekara and two others to appear before court on October 21 and imposed travel bans on all three.
The order was issued while the Supreme Court was considering an appeal filed by the wife of murder victim Shantha Dodangoda, challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit the three accused.
Jayasekara, former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council member Nilantha Jayasinghe and former Kahawatte Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Vajira Darshan de Silva were previously sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court over the 2015 shooting that took place at an election rally held in Kahawatte in support of then presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
The three were later acquitted by the Court of Appeal, prompting the victim’s wife to appeal the decision before the Supreme Court.
The appeal was heard by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Gihan Kulatunga.
Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara requested the Supreme Court to impose travel restrictions on the three respondents. They were represented by Presidents’ Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetti, U.R. de Silva and Anjua Premaratna, while President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris appeared for the aggrieved party.
