The Board of Governors of Trinity College Kandy is challenging in court the order of the Controller of Immigration and Emigration requiring Mr. Rod Gilbert, the Principal of Trinity College, to leave the country by May 15.

Gilbert announced to the school last week that he has been required to leave and he was complying with the order. But he hoped to return soon to complete his five-year contract which is due to end in December this year.

The controller’s order adduced "intelligence reports’’ for requiring Gilbert to leave but did not specify what these were.

The principal said on Friday that although the governors have asked him to continue beyond this year, he believed that he had been able to complete the task assigned to him and he should hand over to a Lankan successor.

He was hopeful that whatever led to the order that he leaves the country will be quickly sorted out.

The Board of Governors of Trinity College include the Anglican Bishops of Colombo and Kurunegala, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala among other distinguished persons.