Person
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Listed from published reports. Appearing here is not a finding of wrongdoing.
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Details
- Role
- President of Sri Lanka, elected November 2019; Defence Secretary until 2015
- Position
- Denies the allegations in the Channel 4 programme
- Status
- Barred from leaving Sri Lanka by court order, as reported in June 2026, and not named as a suspect in that report; on 28 October 2026 the Colombo Fort Magistrate ordered the CID to appear on 4 November to state its position on his request to lift the travel ban temporarily so he could travel to Singapore, according to Newswire; on 4 November 2026 the CID objected and the Magistrate fixed 25 November for the order, according to News First; his petition to bar arrest in the Easter investigation was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, as reported on 1 October 2026; he appealed to the Supreme Court, as reported on 9 October 2026
- Left office
- Resigned in July 2022 after mass protests
Coming court dates
- 25 Nov 2026
- Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court to deliver its order on his request to lift the overseas travel ban
Connections (45)
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / Appointed / Presidential Task Force for One Country, One Law
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / Announced presidential run days after / Easter Sunday attacks, 21 April 2019
- Suresh Sallay / Became intelligence chief under / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / Rejected allegations in / Channel 4 Dispatches: Sri Lanka's Easter Bombings
- Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter attacks / Handed final report to / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Criminal Investigation Department / Obtained court order barring travel by, 2026 / Gotabaya RajapaksaAllegation
- A two-judge Court of Appeal bench dismissed, without taking it up for hearing, his petition for an order preventing his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in the Easter attacks investigation.1 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Appeals Court dismisses ex-President Gotabaya’s writ petition against arrest over Easter attacks probe
- The petition named the Inspector General of Police, the CID Director and the Attorney General as respondents. The Attorney General’s Department had told the court it could not undertake that he would not be arrested. The article notes that he has denied involvement and that the dismissal does not by itself establish criminal liability.1 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Court blow for Gota over Easter attacks probe
- He filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal ruling, naming the Inspector General of Police, the CID Director and several others as respondents.9 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Gotabaya Rajapaksa appeals Supreme Court over PTA arrest bid
- On 28 October 2026 Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, on a motion by his lawyers, ordered the CID, described as the complainant, to appear on 4 November to state its position on a request to lift the overseas travel ban temporarily so he could travel to Singapore. The CID was not present. The article says the ban was imposed on him and several former intelligence officers in connection with the Easter attacks investigations, and that he was present in open court.28 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Gotabaya’s travel ban: Court orders CID to appear on November 4
- On 4 November 2026 Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena said the order on the request to lift the travel ban would be delivered on 25 November. The article says the CID objected, saying any overseas travel could harm the ongoing Easter attacks investigation, and that the Magistrate told the CID the court has no authority to release him on bail or a bond because he has not been named a suspect. It carries no statement from him.4 Nov 2026 · News 1st · Court to Rule on Gota Travel Ban Request on November 25
- Reports that he arrived at the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on 28 October 2026 seeking removal of the overseas travel ban imposed in connection with the Easter attacks investigations.28 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrives at Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court
- AFP: following Sallay’s interrogation, investigators secured court orders preventing former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa from leaving the island. The report says the CID had stopped short of naming him as a suspect.10 Jun 2026 · AFP (via Macau Business) · Sri Lanka says spy chief 'directed' Easter bombings
- Namal Rajapaksa / Nephew of / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Mahinda Rajapaksa / Brother of / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / Found to have violated public trust by / Supreme Court ruling on the economic crisis, November 2023
- Mahinda Rajapaksa / Prime minister under, until May 2022 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Basil Rajapaksa / Brother of; finance minister under / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Namal Rajapaksa / Minister in government of, from August 2020 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Named in the government line-up unveiled after the swearing-in at Kandy in August 2020, under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, as Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs.13 Aug 2020 · Daily FT · GR-MR pick A and B teams to deliver prosperity
- Shasheendra Rajapaksa / State minister in government of, from August 2020 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Named in the government line-up unveiled after the swearing-in at Kandy in August 2020, under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, as a state minister for paddy and cereals, organic food, vegetables, fruits, seed production and high-tech agriculture.13 Aug 2020 · Daily FT · GR-MR pick A and B teams to deliver prosperity
- Chamal Rajapaksa / Sworn in as minister before, August 2020 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Ranil Wickremesinghe / Succeeded as president / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / Granted pardon to, later ruled invalid / Duminda Silva
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / Won / Presidential election, November 2019
- Dullas Alahapperuma / Sworn in as minister by, November 2019 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Sworn in by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on 22 November 2019 as minister of education, and of sports and youth affairs.22 Nov 2019 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · New Cabinet sworn-in
- Sarath Fonseka / Led the army in the war alongside / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Wimal Weerawansa / Sworn in as minister by, November 2019 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Sworn in by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on 22 November 2019 as minister of small and medium enterprises and entrepreneur development, and of industries and supply management.22 Nov 2019 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · New Cabinet sworn-in
- S. M. Chandrasena / Sworn in as minister by, November 2019 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Sworn in by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on 22 November 2019 as minister of environment and wildlife resources, and of land and land development.22 Nov 2019 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · New Cabinet sworn-in
- Johnston Fernando / Sworn in as minister by, November 2019 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Sworn in by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on 22 November 2019 as minister of roads and highways, and of ports and naval affairs.22 Nov 2019 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · New Cabinet sworn-in
- Prasanna Ranatunga / Sworn in as minister by, November 2019 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Sworn in by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on 22 November 2019 as minister of industrial export and investment promotion, and of tourism and aviation services.22 Nov 2019 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · New Cabinet sworn-in
- Douglas Devananda / Sworn in as minister by, November 2019 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Sworn in by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on 22 November 2019 as minister of fisheries and aquatic resources.22 Nov 2019 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · New Cabinet sworn-in
- Nimal Siripala de Silva / Sworn in as minister by, November 2019 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Sworn in by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on 22 November 2019 as minister of justice, human rights and legal reforms.22 Nov 2019 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · New Cabinet sworn-in
- Udaya Gammanpila / Minister in government of, from August 2020 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Named in the government line-up unveiled after the swearing-in at Kandy in August 2020, under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, as Minister of Energy.13 Aug 2020 · Daily FT · GR-MR pick A and B teams to deliver prosperity
- Ajith Nivard Cabraal / State minister in government of, from August 2020 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Named in the government line-up unveiled after the swearing-in at Kandy in August 2020, under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, as State Minister of Finance and Capital Markets and Public Enterprise Reforms.13 Aug 2020 · Daily FT · GR-MR pick A and B teams to deliver prosperity
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / Named in / List of 50 cases tabled in Parliament, 8 October 2026Allegation
- Rohitha Abeygunawardena / Sworn in as minister before, August 2020 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- C. B. Ratnayake / Sworn in as minister before, August 2020 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Mahindananda Aluthgamage / Sworn in as minister before, August 2020 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Bandula Gunawardana / Sworn in as minister before, August 2020 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Keheliya Rambukwella / Sworn in as minister before, August 2020 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Dinesh Gunawardena / Foreign Minister under, 2019 to 2020 / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Nalaka Godahewa / Organiser of the Viyathmaga group that backed / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Describes him as one of the main organisers of the Viyathmaga organisation that propelled Gotabaya Rajapaksa to the presidency in 2019.15 Sep 2024 · The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) · Get to know the main contenders’ core teams
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / Accused in; proceedings quashed, September 2019 / Avant-Garde Bribery Commission case, Colombo Magistrate’s CourtAllegation
- On 30 September 2016 the Colombo Chief Magistrate granted him bail, with Nissanka Senadipathi and five others, in the case filed by the Bribery Commission. He was banned from travelling abroad. The Commission said the suspects permitted Avant Garde Maritime Services to operate a floating armoury, causing a Rs. 11.4 billion loss.30 Sep 2016 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · Avant Garde case: Gota, Senadipathi, 5 others granted bail
- On 12 September 2019 the Court of Appeal allowed his revision application, set aside the Magistrate’s Court order and quashed the proceedings for want of jurisdiction, directing that he and the second to eighth accused be discharged.12 Sep 2019 · Ada Derana · Appeals Court orders to acquit Gotabaya and others from Avant-Garde case
- Nissanka Senadhipathi / Co-accused with, in the Bribery Commission case; told a commission he was victimised to imprison / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Sugeeshwara Bandara / Remanded until 11 November 2026 while described as former private secretary to / Gotabaya RajapaksaAllegation
- Reports that he was further remanded until 11 November after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. He is accused of receiving two salaries under the President’s expenditure head in 2022, as secretary to Gotabaya Rajapaksa and as Project Director at the Presidential Secretariat under Ranil Wickremesinghe. The article does not say who brought the case and carries no response from him.28 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Sugeeshwara Bandara further remanded
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / As defence secretary, backed the modernisation drive of / Sarath Fonseka
- Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president’s younger brother, backed Fonseka’s modernisation efforts. Fonseka later said their split stemmed from a dispute over who deserved credit for the victory.18 Nov 2011 · Al Jazeera · Profile: General Sarath Fonseka
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / As defence secretary, declared the war over / End of the war, May 2009
- At an official ceremony in Colombo, defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse declared the end of the 26-year conflict, telling President Mahinda Rajapakse, “We have successfully ended the war.”19 May 2009 · Al Jazeera · Sri Lanka rebel chief 'killed'
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / Said by Karuna to have provided his fake diplomatic passport / Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan (Colonel Karuna Amman)Allegation
- Human Rights Watch says Karuna was arrested in the UK in 2007 for travelling on a false document and testified that the then-defence secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, provided his fake diplomatic passport. The article carries no response from Rajapaksa.23 Jun 2020 · Human Rights Watch · Sri Lanka Investigates Rebel Leader Turned Politician
- The Sunday Times reported on 20 January 2008 that Karuna pleaded guilty to breaching the UK ID Card Act 2006 after entering Britain on a diplomatic passport allegedly issued by the Sri Lankan government, which carried a different name and the designation “Director of Wild Life”. Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila told Parliament he had no knowledge of the passport or the note that backed the visa. The article does not mention Gotabaya Rajapaksa.20 Jan 2008 · The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) · Karuna pleads guilty, faces jail
- Protesters storm the President’s official residence, 2022 / Protesters blamed him for the crisis; he said he would step down afterwards / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Reports that he had said he would step down on 13 July after thousands of protesters stormed his official residence, and that the protesters blamed him for the economic crisis.15 Jul 2022 · The Tribune (India) · Sri Lankan President lands in Singapore, quits
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / Emailed to the Speaker from Singapore / Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation letter, July 2022
- Reports that he fled to the Maldives without resigning, went on to Singapore, and emailed his resignation letter to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena; the Speaker’s office was checking it before a formal announcement.15 Jul 2022 · The Tribune (India) · Sri Lankan President lands in Singapore, quits
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / Appeared in court to testify in, September 2026 / Disappearance of Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandhan, 2011
- He appeared before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on 29 September 2026 to testify in the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court case, which had allowed him to give evidence by video link. He was Defence Secretary when the two activists disappeared, and was first summoned to give evidence in 2019.29 Sep 2026 · Newswire · Gotabaya Rajapaksa in court to testify in Lalith-Kugan disappearance case
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa / Has denied that government forces caused civilian casualties / UN Panel of Experts report, 25 April 2011