The Jaffna Magistrate's Court has ordered former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to submit a sworn affidavit by February 6, 2026, detailing the death threats he claims are preventing his appearance in court for a case involving the enforced disappearance of two political activists 14 years ago.
The directive came after Rajapaksa's legal team informed the court that the former president was unable to travel to Jaffna due to security concerns, specifically citing death threats against him.
The court's order requires Rajapaksa to provide specific, documented evidence of these alleged threats in the form of a legally binding affidavit, rather than relying on verbal representations made through his attorneys.
The 2011 disappearance case
Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been summoned to appear before the Jaffna Magistrate's Court in connection with the abduction of Front Line Socialist Party (FSP) activists Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan, who were forcibly taken on December 10, 2011.
The two young activists, both in their twenties, were travelling on a motorcycle when they were abducted by unidentified individuals in Jaffna. Despite extensive investigations and numerous witness testimonies, their whereabouts remain unknown.
The abduction occurred during Rajapaksa's tenure as Defence Secretary under the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration, when he exercised broad control over security forces in the immediate post-war period.
Pattern of non-appearance
This is not the first time Gotabaya Rajapaksa has avoided appearing before the Jaffna court in this matter. The former president has been summoned multiple times over the years but has consistently cited security concerns as grounds for non-attendance.
Legal sources say the court's latest order represents a firmer stance, requiring Rajapaksa to formally substantiate his security claims through a sworn statement that carries legal consequences if found to be false or exaggerated.
"An affidavit is not merely a courtesy to the court—it's a legal document that can be challenged and carries penalties for perjury," explained a legal analyst familiar with the case. "The court is essentially saying: prove it."
If Rajapaksa fails to submit the required affidavit by the February 6 deadline, the court could potentially issue an arrest warrant, proceed with the case in absentia, or initiate contempt of court proceedings.
Disappearance Amid Systemic Impunity
The Lalith–Kugan case is among hundreds of unresolved enforced disappearance cases dating back to Sri Lanka’s civil war and its immediate aftermath.
Human rights organisations have documented numerous instances of abductions, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances in the Northern and Eastern Provinces between 2008 and 2012, a period during which Gotabaya Rajapaksa served as Defence Secretary and oversaw security operations.
The two FSP activists had been vocal critics of alleged military abuses in the North, making their case particularly prominent among families seeking justice and answers about their missing relatives.
