Former Minister Ranjan Ramanayake, who arrived at the Katunayake international airport last night, was not allowed to leave the country and turned away by the  Immigration and Immigration officials, a Department spokesman said.

He said the former parliamentarian reached the airport to leave for the USA to participate in a concert.

He intended to board the Qatar Airways aircraft at 8.15 last night, en route to the USA.

He was stopped because of the travel ban imposed by the courts in connection with the cases pending against him.