Colombo, 19 September 2026. Sri Lanka Brief: INTERPOL has issued a Blue Notice concerning former Minister Basil Rajapaksa following a request by Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), according to Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala. Reports citing the Minister say the notice has already been issued, although other reports on the same day described the CID as having requested the notice.
The move comes as the Government seeks to use international law-enforcement mechanisms in cases involving former politicians and other individuals who are overseas while facing legal proceedings in Sri Lanka.
Rajapaksa is facing proceedings over the alleged purchase of a 1.5-acre property at Brown’s Hill, Eliyakanda Road, Matara, for Rs. 60 million. According to reports, the Matara Chief Magistrate’s Court reissued a warrant for his arrest in July after he failed to appear before court. His lawyers had previously informed the court that he was overseas receiving medical treatment.
Minister Wijepala said the Blue Notice enables international law-enforcement authorities to obtain information concerning Rajapaksa’s identity, location or activities in connection with the investigations.
Blue Notice is not a Red Notice
There is an important legal and procedural distinction between an INTERPOL Blue Notice and a Red Notice.
According to INTERPOL, a Blue Notice is used “to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation”. A Red Notice, in contrast, is used to seek the location and arrest of a person wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence.
INTERPOL’s official factsheet further states that the legal basis for a Red Notice is an arrest warrant or court order issued by the judicial authorities of a country. It describes a Blue Notice as being used to “locate, identify or obtain information on a person of interest in a criminal investigation”.
Therefore, a Blue Notice concerning Rajapaksa should not be interpreted as an INTERPOL request for his arrest. Its purpose is to obtain information relevant to a criminal investigation. A Red Notice has the separate purpose of seeking the location and arrest of a wanted person.
Minister Wijepala, however, described the distinction differently.
“A Blue Notice has been issued for Basil Rajapaksa. When individuals are required for an investigation, we notify Interpol through a Blue Notice. If there is a known address showing he resides in a specific place, the Blue Notice conveys that he is required by the country,” the Minister said.
The Minister also suggested that a Blue Notice applies when a suspect’s foreign address is known while a Red Notice is used when a fugitive’s whereabouts are unknown.
That explanation does not correspond with INTERPOL’s published definitions. INTERPOL distinguishes Blue and Red Notices principally by their purpose, rather than simply by whether the authorities already know the person’s whereabouts.
INTERPOL also notes that most of its Notices are restricted to law-enforcement use and are not publicly available. An extract may be published on INTERPOL’s website if the requesting country wishes to alert the public or seek its assistance.
Minister Wijepala said the Government would continue taking legal and international measures concerning individuals wanted in criminal and bribery-related cases, irrespective of their previous political positions.