Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was granted permission to leave the country for a defence seminar in China by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitya.

Rajapaksa's passport was released on a bond from Ocotber 5 to October 30.

His passport was impounded by the court in relation to the case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations for Bribery and Corruption over the alleged corruption regarding the Avant-Garde company.