A group of Sri Lankan devotees who had embarked on a religious pilgrimage to Israel were deported to the country after allegedly breaching emigration laws.
The group which had made tentative arrangements to visit Jerusalem were deported after an intelligence company had provided a tip-off to the Israeli government.
The group were reportedly notified that they were being deported in accordance with the Israeli immigration and emigration laws.
However, Emigration officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport said that they have commenced investigations to determine the main reason behind the deportation since the group had adhered to the necessary regulations while undertaking the pilgrimage.
Forty three devotees out of the 71 people who travelled to Israel reached Sri Lanka at around 6:45 pm yesterday. Ten others arrived in the country around 3:45 am today (Feb 21).
The remaining members of the group are to be deported this evening.
The group of devotees is reported to have comprised 49 males and four females who are residents of Kuliyapitiya, Wennappuwa, and Mirigama. They have been sent to the CID and the State Intelligence Service for further investigations.
All Ceylon Makkal Congress MP Ali Sabri Raheem had been arrested by Kalpitiya police after he surrendered to the police today morning.
An interim order prohibiting Deshabandu Tennakoon from carrying out his duties as Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been issued by the Supreme Court.
The 22nd amendment to the constitution dealing with the term of the President has been gazetted by order of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The Presidential election will be held on September 21, the Commission of Elections has decided.
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