Sri Lankan court drops corruption charges against Prez Gotabhaya, orders lifting of his travel ban
Colombo: Sri Lanka's newly-elected President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was on Thursday absolved of all corruption charges linked to the embezzlement of nearly USD 185,000 by a high court which also lifted the overseas travel ban on him and released his impounded passport.
Rajapaksa, 70, stormed to victory on Sunday in the presidential election, trouncing his nearest rival Sajith Premadasa by a margin of over 13 lakh votes - 52.25 per cent of votes polled against 41.99 per cent.
The former defence secretary, who is credited with helping end the island nation's long civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), is the seventh Sri Lankan President.
The Western province-based Permanent High Court Trial at Bar ordered the lifting of overseas travel ban imposed on Rajapaksa and told the Court Registrar to release the President's impounded passport.
President Rajapaksa will embark on his first foreign tour with a visit to India on November 29 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Special High Court in September last year imposed a travel ban on Rajapaksa, the younger brother of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, and six others in a corruption case.
Appearing for the Attorney General on Thursday, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris informed the court that as per the provisions of the Constitution no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against the President, and therefore requested the court to release the defendant from all charges, News First reported.
The court decided to release President Rajapaksa from all indictments filed over the alleged misappropriation of Rs 33.9 million (around USD 185,000) in public funds for the construction of the D A Rajapaksa Memorial and Museum, it said.
The court also ordered that all the bondsmen who placed bonds on behalf of Rajapaksa to be released from their bonds. It ordered that the cash bonds placed with the court be released, the report said.
Justices Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne ordered the prosecution to inform the court on or before January 9 on the measures to be taken regarding the remaining 6 defendants in the case.
In his swearing-in speech on Monday, Rajapaksa reached out to the jittery Tamil and Muslim minorities by promising to protect them, even though many of them did not vote for him.
The new president also pledged to support the United Nation's sustainable development goals and make Sri Lanka one of the leading countries in sustainable development.
President Rajapaksa assured the people that professionalism and efficiency would become a cornerstone of his government and vowed not to tolerate corruption.
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Lok Sabha polls phase 1: Estimated voter turnout at 3 pm 49.78 pc, says EC
New Delhi (PTI): The estimated voter turnout at 3 pm in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday was around 49.78 per cent, the Election Commission said.
A spokesperson of the poll panel said the figures were only approximate.
In a statement earlier in the day, the poll watchdog had described the voter turnout till 1 pm as "substantial". Polling was progressing "smoothly and peacefully" across 21 states and union territories, it had said.
Visuals of voters standing in long queues waiting for their chance to vote were seen across polling stations as voting began at 7 am, the poll panel said.
People were undeterred by rains in certain parts such as Jammu and Kashmir's Uddhampur and waited in queues for their turn to vote.
Polling for assembly elections is also being held simultaneously in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
Update at 1300 hrs : Polls are by and large peaceful across States/UTs
— Spokesperson ECI (@SpokespersonECI) April 19, 2024
- Voters show great enthusiasm, as polling reaches halfway mark
- Substantial voter turnout reported in States/UTs as at 1300 hrs
Photos/video courtesy : CEOs/PIBshttps://t.co/LOz8TZT72p pic.twitter.com/e9xqhdsdPQ
