Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama has issued an overseas travel ban on ten Sri Lankan athletes who failed to return to the country after travelling to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
The order follows submissions by the Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Sports-Related Offences, which reported that the athletes had not participated in their respective events and had subsequently gone missing.
Their disappearance has resulted in an estimated Rs. 50 million financial loss to the Sri Lankan government.
The Director General of Sports lodged a formal complaint, triggering an investigation under Sections 5 and 6 of the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act No. 24 of 2019.
Authorities are now working to issue Interpol red notices to locate the absconding individuals.
According to Chief Inspector Supun Widanage, head of the Special Investigation Unit, 116 athletes represented Sri Lanka at the Birmingham Games, accompanied by 28 coaches, 11 officials, and 4 medical officers.
Of these, three wrestlers, two judokas, two boxers, and two volleyball players are among those who did not return.
The athletes named in the travel ban include Asela de Silva, Chamila Dilani, S. Chathuranga, Y. Nicholas, Ashen Rashmika, S. Malintha, Sriyanthika Fernando, Sanjeewa Rajakaruna, and Jeevantha Vimukthi Kumara.
The court was told that none of the athletes in question fulfilled their sporting commitments during the games.
Further investigations are ongoing to determine their current whereabouts and possible collaborators in the incident.
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