COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will seek Interpol red notices for the arrest of athletes who fled the 2022 Commonwealth Games village in Birmingham and failed to return home, a court was informed.
The Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court on Friday imposed travel bans on 10 athletes believed to be residing illegally in the United Kingdom.
According to the Sports Ministry’s Offences Prevention Unit, the absconding athletes caused a financial loss of about 50 million Sri Lankan rupees to the government by not returning to the country after the games.
Police Inspector Supun Vidanage from the unit told the court Friday that the Sri Lankan contingent for the 2022 Games comprised 116 athletes, 28 training officials, 11 medical officers and 23 others representing Boxing, Wrestling, Judo and Volleyball.
Nine athletes, a manager and a sports photographer did not return to the country after the event, he said.
The official said the ministry will soon seek Interpol red notices for them.
Vidanage later told reporters that the court action marked the first step in the investigation, noting that local arrest warrants must be issued before Interpol can be approached to seek international arrest notices.
Sri Lanka won one silver and one bronze medal at the 2022 Birmingham Games, ranking 31st in the overall medal tally.
The Games were held from late July to mid-August 2022, at the time when Sri Lanka's was facing unprecedented economic crisis and had declared bankruptcy after defaulting on its external debt.
A special police investigation unit was established in 2019 under the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act.