Travel ban on Mahinda Rajapaksa, several others

The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court has issued a travel ban on former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa, former ministers Namal Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando and 13 others.

This is over the attacks on peaceful protestors at the Galle Face protest site on Monday.

The ban came three days after Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from the Premiership.

Reuters reported ordinary Sri Lankans blame the government of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family for the growing crisis on the island with down to just about $50m, and massive shortages of essentials including cooking gas, fuel and medicine.

After more than a month of mostly peaceful demonstrations, public anger exploded into violence this week, after ruling party supporters stormed an anti-government protest camp, triggering clashes nationwide and the prime minister’s resignation.