SINGAPORE: Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa did not board a flight to Singapore on Thursday (Jul 14) morning from the Maldives after fleeing his country the day before, Sri Lankan media reported.
Citing a government source, Reuters reported on Wednesday night that Mr Rajapaksa was expected to fly to Singapore. It added that the president was set to send in his resignation after landing in Singapore.
But Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror said on Thursday morning that Mr Rajapaksa and his wife did not depart for Singapore on a scheduled Singapore Airlines flight from Male and is waiting to travel on a private plane.
Citing sources from the Maldives, the Daily Mirror said they did not board their scheduled flight "due to security concerns".
The Maldives Journal said on Thursday that Mr Rajapaksa was still in the Maldives. Mr Rajapaksa was reportedly rushed off to a resort island with the Maldives Police Service after arriving on Wednesday, the Maldives News Network said.
Sri Lanka is currently in its worst economic crisis. Mr Rajapaksa is accused of mismanaging the economy to a point where the country has run out of foreign exchange to finance the most essential imports, leading to severe hardship for its 22 million people.
Thousands of anti-government protesters stormed Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office on Wednesday, hours after he was named acting president. They want Mr Wickremesinghe to resign as they see him as an ally of Mr Rajapaksa.
Police and troops failed to hold back the protesters despite firing tear gas and water cannon. The country had earlier on Wednesday declared a state of emergency following months of protests.
Over the weekend, Mr Rajapaksa promised to resign on Wednesday to clear the way for a “peaceful transition of power”.
The 73-year-old had fled his official residence in Colombo before protesters overran it. Thousands of people also set fire to Mr Wickremesinghe’s private home over the weekend.
As president, Mr Rajapaksa enjoys immunity from arrest in Sri Lanka. There has been no formal announcement that he has stepped down.
Over the weekend, Mr Wickremesinghe also announced his willingness to resign if a consensus is reached on forming a unity government.
Sri Lanka defaulted on its US$51 billion foreign debt in April and is in talks with the International Monetary Fund for a possible bailout.
The country has also nearly exhausted its petrol supplies, and the government has ordered the closure of non-essential offices and schools.
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Citing a government source, Reuters reported on Wednesday night that Mr Rajapaksa was expected to fly to Singapore. It added that the president was set to send in his resignation after landing in Singapore.
But Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror said on Thursday morning that Mr Rajapaksa and his wife did not depart for Singapore on a scheduled Singapore Airlines flight from Male and is waiting to travel on a private plane.
Citing sources from the Maldives, the Daily Mirror said they did not board their scheduled flight "due to security concerns".
The Maldives Journal said on Thursday that Mr Rajapaksa was still in the Maldives. Mr Rajapaksa was reportedly rushed off to a resort island with the Maldives Police Service after arriving on Wednesday, the Maldives News Network said.
Sri Lanka is currently in its worst economic crisis. Mr Rajapaksa is accused of mismanaging the economy to a point where the country has run out of foreign exchange to finance the most essential imports, leading to severe hardship for its 22 million people.
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Thousands of anti-government protesters stormed Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office on Wednesday, hours after he was named acting president. They want Mr Wickremesinghe to resign as they see him as an ally of Mr Rajapaksa.
Police and troops failed to hold back the protesters despite firing tear gas and water cannon. The country had earlier on Wednesday declared a state of emergency following months of protests.
Over the weekend, Mr Rajapaksa promised to resign on Wednesday to clear the way for a “peaceful transition of power”.
The 73-year-old had fled his official residence in Colombo before protesters overran it. Thousands of people also set fire to Mr Wickremesinghe’s private home over the weekend.
As president, Mr Rajapaksa enjoys immunity from arrest in Sri Lanka. There has been no formal announcement that he has stepped down.
Over the weekend, Mr Wickremesinghe also announced his willingness to resign if a consensus is reached on forming a unity government.
Sri Lanka defaulted on its US$51 billion foreign debt in April and is in talks with the International Monetary Fund for a possible bailout.
The country has also nearly exhausted its petrol supplies, and the government has ordered the closure of non-essential offices and schools.
Continue reading...