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Govt. seeks INTERPOL assistance to bring Basil Rajapaksa back

Sunday Island

June 21, 2026

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Police Headquarters are in the process of seeking INTERPOL assistance to secure the return of former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa to Sri Lanka, police sources said yesterday.

- BY NORMAN PALIHAWADANE AND SK SAMARANAYAKE

A senior police officer said steps were being taken to obtain international assistance to bring Rajapaksa back to the country to face court proceedings relating to two cases in which arrest warrants have been issued against him.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court last week and the Matara Chief Magistrate’s Court several weeks ago issued warrants for Rajapaksa’s arrest after he failed to appear before court.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena recently directed the CID’s Illegal Assets Investigation Division to arrest and produce Rajapaksa before court over allegations of misappropriating Rs. 7.8 million belonging to the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

This story is from the June 21, 2026 edition of Sunday Island.

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