The Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court today further extended its order preventing former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal from leaving the country until December 15.

The Court made this order consequent to a request made by former Southern Province Governor Rajith Keerthi Thennakoon through a private complaint filed in terms of Section 136(1)(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act.

When the matter came up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala, defence counsel appeared on behalf of Nivard Cabraal and raised preliminary objections challenging the maintainability of the charges against the former Central Bank Governor.

The petitioner said Cabraal is responsible for the country's crippling economic crisis since he took measures to pay a 500 million US dollar sovereign bond.