The president of the Emigration and immigration association K.A. Kanugala says that the airport officials have no legal right to prevent an individual from leaving the country without a court order prohibiting the departure. It has reference to the attempt made by former Finance Minister Basil Rajapksa to leave the country early this morning.

“The officials on duty had acted to prevent an individual from leaving the country under the veil of secrecy.

Any person can leave the country through normal channels.

They are eligible if there were no travel bans slapped on them by a competent court.”

The immigration officials cannot stop anybody without a travel ban.

It amounts to an infringement of the individual’s fundamental right of movement if any officer resorts to that.

Any person can leave the country through Mattala or Ratmalana since it did not come under our purview.

The status of the person is irrelevant. We have to act in a very legitimate manner.