* Sri Lanka's former President's brother flees country - report - Colombo Page

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* Sri Lanka's former President's brother flees country - report

Sun, Jan 11, 2015, 09:46 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Jan 11, Colombo: A powerful minister of former Sri Lankan government and the brother of defeated president Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa has reportedly left the island with his family.

Local media reported that former Minister has left the country in Emirates EK 349 flight for Dubai at 2:55 a.m. this morning. He is expected to transit from there to go to the United States.

Basil Rajapaksa, who is a U.S. citizen, wielded extreme power in Mahinda Rajapaksa cabinet heading the Ministry of Economic Development.

His departure is considered as fleeing from corruption charges to be brought against him by Sri Lanka's newly elected government.

Basil Rajapaksa mentioned his job as a farmer in his nomination papers for elections.

Former President's brother Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has also left the country for Maldives, some media reports said but the Rajapaksa family sources said that he is in the country.

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