Sri Lanka ex-president seeks to block arrest over Easter bombings

Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has filed a petition with the Court of Appeal, seeking to block his potential arrest in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The attacks, which targeted churches and hotels, resulted in the deaths of 279 people.

Rajapaksa, along with two military intelligence officers, was issued a foreign travel ban earlier this month as investigations proceed. He has been identified as a "person of interest" in the case. Notably, Rajapaksa's former intelligence chief, Suresh Sallay, has been in detention since February, accused of orchestrating the bombings.

A lawyer representing Rajapaksa stated that the petition was lodged due to concerns that the travel ban serves as a precursor to the former president's arrest. A hearing date for the case has not yet been set. Reports suggest Sallay, a retired major general, was linked to the Islamist bombers and was appointed chief of the State Intelligence Service shortly after Rajapaksa assumed the presidency in 2019.

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A petition was lodged with the Court of Appeal over fears that the travel ban was a precursor to the former leader’s arrest.