Case filed for arrest of former PM Rajapaksa, six others in attack on peaceful protesters

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (right) greets Ranil Wickremesinghe during the latter’s oath taking ceremony as the new prime miner, in Colombo on Thursday. (Photo: AP)
The newly-appointed Prime Miner, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said he looks forward to closer ties with India during his term and thanked India for its economic assance to the country as it tackles the economic crisis.
Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the 26th Prime Miner of the country on Thursday, replacing Mahinda Rajapaksa, who resigned amid widespread protests in the country. The High Commission of India in Colombo, welcomed Wickremesinghe, saying that it hopes for political stability and looks forward to working with the Government of Sri Lanka formed in accordance with democratic processes. “India’s commitment to the people of Sri Lanka will continue,” the High Commission said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, a Sri Lankan court Thursday issued a travel ban on erstwhile prime miner Mahinda Rajapaksa, his son Namal Rajapaksa and 15 others. Mahinda is currently under protection at the Trincomalee naval base. The Fort Magrate’s Court barred them from travelling overseas due to the investigations taking place on the attacks on the GotaGoGama and MynaGoGama peaceful protest sites on Monday, Reuters quoted media reports as saying.