The Court of Appeal has dismissed a petition by the Sri Lankan Navy seeking to block disclosure of expenses related to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s escape from the country in July 2022. The Navy had claimed that releasing this information could compromise national security, but the court found no evidence to support such a claim.
The case traces back to a request filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by journalist Ali, who sought a detailed account of the travel and fuel costs for the Navy vessel used in Rajapaksa’s departure, as well as the names of the passengers aboard. While the RTI Commission had earlier mandated the Navy to disclose the financial information in August 2023, it allowed the identities of accompanying individuals to remain confidential. The Navy’s subsequent challenge was ultimately overruled by the Court of Appeal.
The court’s ruling emphasized that access to information is a fundamental public right and that “secrecy should be the exception, not the rule” for state institutions. By upholding the RTI Commission’s order, the court has mandated that the Navy release the exact costs incurred during the high-profile evacuation. Legal experts say the decision sets a significant precedent for accountability in Sri Lanka, particularly regarding public expenditure and the actions of top officials during times of national crisis.
The disclosure is expected to shed light on government transparency and fuel debates about accountability for decisions made during the country’s severe economic turmoil, which had triggered widespread protests and political upheaval. Analysts note that the case underscores the growing strength of citizen-led demands for information and the judiciary’s willingness to enforce RTI rights against powerful institutions.
The events surrounding Rajapaksa’s escape remain among the most defining moments in Sri Lanka’s recent history. Elected in 2019 on a platform of strong leadership and national security, Rajapaksa, a former defense secretary, initially enjoyed widespread support, particularly among voters who credited him with helping end the country’s decades-long civil war. However, his presidency soon became overshadowed by mounting economic challenges, controversial tax cuts that reduced government revenue, declining foreign reserves, and policy missteps such as a sudden ban on chemical fertilizers that disrupted agricultural production and contributed to food shortages.
By early 2022, Sri Lanka was facing its worst economic crisis since independence, with severe shortages of fuel, food, and medicine, along with daily power cuts that affected millions of people. Public frustration escalated into nationwide protests, widely known as the “Aragalaya” movement, as citizens demanded accountability and political change. Demonstrators occupied key government buildings, including the presidential residence in Colombo, in scenes that drew global attention and symbolized the collapse of public trust in the administration.
As protests intensified and pressure mounted from both the public and within political circles, Rajapaksa fled the country in July 2022. He first traveled to the Maldives and later to Singapore, using state-facilitated transport amid growing security concerns. From abroad, he formally submitted his resignation, becoming the first Sri Lankan president to step down while outside the country. His departure marked the dramatic fall of a powerful political family that had long dominated the country’s political landscape, alongside figures such as his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa.
In the aftermath of his resignation, Rajapaksa has defended his actions and leadership, arguing in his writings that his removal from power was not solely the result of domestic economic failures but part of a broader and more complex conspiracy against him. He has suggested that both internal and external forces played a role in amplifying unrest and orchestrating conditions that ultimately led to his ouster, a claim that remains controversial and widely debated among political analysts and the public.
