The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has issued an order to arrest Basil Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s former Economic Development Minister, and bring him to court on October 14, 2026. The court has also directed that necessary steps be taken to obtain a red notice through Interpol, the international police, to trace and arrest him.
The move is part of an investigation into allegations of misappropriation of funds belonging to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Bureau. According to reports, the order was issued after considering the matters presented to the court by the Illicit Assets Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department.
The incident has again raised questions about how government funds were used and whether government resources were managed properly during elections. However, the mere fact that a court order has been issued does not necessarily mean that the allegations have been proven.
2014 allegation related to allocation of funds
The main aspect of the case is related to the use of funds of 7.8 million rupees allocated to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Bureau in 2014. According to information presented in court by the Criminal Investigation Department, the funds earmarked for the promotion of tourism were allegedly used to procure 12,000 T-shirts during the Uva Provincial Assembly elections.
If government funds earmarked to promote tourism are used for other purposes, it will raise important questions about the way public money is managed. The purpose for which government funds are allocated, the expenditure incurred and the actions of the authorities responsible for them are matters to be elucidated through enquiry.
The Illegal Assets Investigation Unit had already submitted information to the court in this regard. According to the current order, the authorities have been instructed to take steps to arrest Basil Rajapaksa and produce him in court.
Interpol Red Notice: What are the next steps?
Another important aspect in this case is the process of obtaining an Interpol Red Notice. According to news reports, the court has ordered that the arrest warrant be prepared in Sinhala and English languages and necessary procedures be carried out to facilitate efforts to trace and arrest Basil Rajapaksa.
An Interpol Red Notice is a request to the law enforcement authorities of member states to locate and arrest an internationally wanted person. It does not automatically act as an international arrest warrant. Further action will be determined according to the laws and practices of the countries concerned.
Important questions that may arise among the public regarding the incident are how the investigation into the use of public funds will be conducted, what is the evidence for the allegations and whether those responsible will be brought to justice. The results of the investigation and court proceedings are important to arrive at decisive conclusions in this regard.
The general expectation of accountability in Sri Lanka is that when allegations of public finances arise, they should be investigated in accordance with the law, regardless of political influence. In this case too, whether the allegations are substantiated with proper evidence and how the legal proceedings are conducted are matters to be observed.