A court in Sri Lanka on Thursday, 12 May, banned former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his allies from leaving the country over "acts of violence against anti-government demonstrators".
As per sources, the ban has also been imposed on MPs Namal Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando, Sanath Nishantha, and 13 others along with Rajapaksa.
The development comes just a day after the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka on Wednesday denied reports of Sri Lankan political persons and their families fleeing to India as the country witnesses widespread violent protests.
As per local media, protests also erupted in front of Sri Lanka’s Trincomalee Naval Base on Tuesday where former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and some of his family members are believed to be taking refuge after leaving their residence in Colombo.
The high commission had also denied speculations and rumours around India sending any military assistance to Sri Lanka.
"These are fake and blatantly false reports, devoid of any truth or substance," the commission stated on Tuesday.
"The Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs of India clearly stated yesterday that India is fully supportive of Sri Lanka's democracy, stability and economic recovery," the statement added.
After Rajapaksa recently resigned, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that a new PM might be chosen this week.
The president reportedly also held talks with the country's former prime minister and current member of parliament, Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka warned on Wednesday that the economy will collapse if no new government was formed in two days.
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