The Supreme Court once again extended the interim order preventing former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa from leaving the country until August 11, without the prior approval of the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, other respondents, including former Central Bank Governors Ajith Nivard Cabraal, W.D. Lakshman and former Secretary to the Ministry of Finance S.R. Atygalle, gave an undertaking through their lawyers that they would not leave the country without the permission of the Supreme Court.

A five-judge-bench bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, Justice Vijith Malalgoda, Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya and Justice Murdu Fernando fixed the petitions for further hearing on August 10.

The Supreme Court made this order in connection with a Fundamental Rights petition filed by Sri Lankan swimmer and coach Julian Bolling, former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chandra Jayaratne, Transparency International and Jehan Canaga Retna. In this petition, the petitioners sought an order to take legal action against those responsible for financial irregularities and mismanagement of the Sri Lanka economy. 

The petitioners maintained that they information that some of the above respondents may leave the country and thereby avoid giving information sought by the petitioners and consequently prevent proper investigation.

The petitioners stated that irreparable loss would befall the citizens unless the court grants the interim relief sought in the application.