The Colombo High Court today directed authorities to lift the travel ban imposed on former Minister Basil Rajapaksa.
A travel ban was imposed on the Former Minister after the Attorney General (AG) had filed indictments against him and former Director General of Divi Neguma Department, Kithsiri Ranawaka in the Colombo High Court.
The AG filed indictments against the two former state officials for allegedly printing five million almanacs with the image of then President Mahinda Rajapaksa to be used as election propaganda material, during the January 2015 Presidential Election.
Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa is accused of printing the almanacs at a cost of Rs. 29.4 million of funds belonging to the Divi Neguma Department.
The Attorney General alleged that by printing these almanacs between November 23 and December 31, 2014, the accused had attempted to influence citizens of this country to vote for then Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The AG maintained that the act of the accused deems him guilty of the offence of bribery in accordance with Section 79 of the Presidential Election Act No. 15 of 1981, while the two accused have been charged with misappropriation under the Public Property Act No. 12 of 1982.
Basil Rajapaksa has denied the allegation (NewsWire)