A local court in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Thursday, issued a travel ban on former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and others over investigations into violent clashes, which erupted on Monday.
The Forth Magistrate’s Court issued the travel ban notice on 17 people, including the former prime minister and his son, Namal Rajapaksa.
Violent incidents were reported on Monday after pro-government groups clashed with anti-government protesters, which left nine people dead and about 300 others injured.
Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down as the prime minister on Monday.
The sitting president, who is Mahinda’s younger brother, said on Wednesday that he would appoint a new prime minister within the week.
The prime minister is the second in the order of precedence after the president and head of the cabinet of ministers.
With the resignation of Mahinda, many expect this is the beginning of the end of the dominance of Rajapaksas, in post-independence Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka achieved independence from British Empire on Feb. 4, 1948.