Former State Minister Premalal Jayasekara had left the country before the Supreme Court imposed a travel ban on him, police have revealed.

Police said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) uncovered the information while conducting inquiries into the matter.

The Supreme Court on September 04 issued an order preventing former State Minister Premalal Jayasekara and two other accused from travelling overseas. The order was issued in connection with a case involving the shooting at a political rally during the 2015 Presidential Election.

The three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Justice Achala Wengappuli and Justice Gihan Kulatunga also ordered that the travel ban be communicated to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.

The bench further ordered that notices be issued directing Jayasekara and the two other accused to appear before the court on October 21, 2026. 

Accordingly, when the CID initiated legal proceedings in relation to the court order, it was revealed that Jayasekara had travelled overseas in August.

However, the CID said Jayasekara had made arrangements for his return flight before leaving the country.

Jayasekara was sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court after being found guilty of causing a death by firing at a political rally during the 2015 Presidential Election.

Following an appeal filed by Jayasekara and the other accused against the sentence, the Court of Appeal ordered their acquittal and release.

The aggrieved parties subsequently filed an appeal before the Supreme Court, arguing that the Court of Appeal's decision was contrary to the law and seeking an order to set it aside and impose the relevant punishment.

When the appeal was taken up for consideration, the three-member Supreme Court bench headed by the Chief Justice issued an order preventing Jayasekara and the two other accused, who had been sentenced to death and subsequently acquitted, from travelling overseas.