Former Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara Has Left the Country
08-Sep-2026.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has informed authorities that former Deputy Minister of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Premalal Jayasekara, popularly known as ‘Chokka Malli’, has already left the country despite a travel ban imposed on him by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had last September 5 ordered Premalal Jayasekara and two others to appear before the court on October 21 and imposed overseas travel bans on them.
The three individuals had previously been sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court in connection with a murder case in the Kahawatte area. However, the Court of Appeal subsequently acquitted all three accused.
The wife of Shantha Dodamgoda, who represented the aggrieved party, had thereafter appealed to the Supreme Court against the acquittal of the three accused. The Supreme Court subsequently imposed travel restrictions on the accused in connection with the hearing of the appeal.
When the CID attempted to enforce the travel ban, it was discovered that former Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara had travelled to Thailand on August 31.
CID investigators have informed the Attorney General’s Department of the development.
The case relates to an incident in which a person was shot dead in the Kahawatte area during an election rally held in support of then presidential candidate and former President Maithripala Sirisena during the 2015 Presidential Election.
Premalal Jayasekara, former Provincial Council member Nilanta Jayasinghe and former Kahawatte Pradeshiya Sabha chairman Wajira Darshana de Silva were found guilty in connection with the incident and sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court.
The Court of Appeal subsequently overturned the order and acquitted the accused.
The appeal filed before the Supreme Court was taken up before a three-member bench comprising Supreme Court Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Achala Wengappuli and Gihan Kulatunga.
During the proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara requested the court to impose travel bans on Premalal Jayasekara and the two other accused.
President’s Counsels Lathuwahhetty, U.R. de Silva and Anuj Premaratne appeared for the accused, while President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris appeared for the aggrieved party.
