Former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa was forced to turn back following protests by passengers when he tried to board a flight to the US via Dubai at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in the early hours of this morning (12).
The incident was confirmed by the BIA's duty officer.
Mr Rajapaksa had arrived at the airport to board Emirates Flight EK-349 which was due to depart at 3.15am.
However, passengers who were nearby the Silk Route Passenger Clearence Terminal at the airport vehemently objected to the former minister, forcing him to leave.
Meanwhile, the Immigration and Emigration Department's officers at the Silk Route Terminal, which provides dedicated services to VIPs at the airport, have withdrawn from their duties with effect from midnight yesterday.
K.A.A.S. Kanugala, President of the Sri Lanka Immigration and Emigration Officers' Association (SLIEOA) said their officers will stay away from duty at the Silk Route terminal until further notice to prevent families of politicians from leaving the country. Accordingly, Emigration services at the terminal have temporarily ceased.
The Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya branch of SriLankan Airlines said that employees affiliated to their trade union will also be withdrawing from Silk Route and the CIP Lounge with effect from 12.00pm today, union President Janaka Vidanapathirana stated.
By T.K.G. Kapila
A Thai woman walking topless in Arugam Bay town has been arrested by the Police.
The UK government has unveiled a package of reforms to simplify imports from developing countries which allows for more garments manufactured in Sri Lanka to enter the UK tariff-free.
The Cabinet has approved a proposal for Sri Lankans overseas to apply for their passports through an online system via the Lankan diplomatic missions.
Villagers in Nirmalapura, Daluwa, Norochcholai today staged a protest over an incident where a group of Navy officials and sailors had assaulted a resident in the area over night, Police said.
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