The Colombo Fort Magistrate ordered immigration authorities to prevent Gotabaya Rajapaksa and two other military intelligence officers from leaving the country.
In 2019, Rajapaksa had renounced his US citizenship to contest the 2019 presidential polls. As per Sri Lankan Constitution, dual citizenship holders are barred from contesting elections.
"Gotabaya returned because no country is willing to accept him, he has no place to hide," said Joseph Stalin, the leader of a teachers' trade union that helped mobilise demonstrators.
Rajapaksa, 73, fled the country on July 13 after months-long mass public demonstrations demanding his immediate resignation on July 9 gained momentum after protesters stormed the President's House.
