Colombo: Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to return home from Thailand on Saturday. This information was given in a media report on Thursday. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 73, fled the country after revolting against his government amid Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis ever.
Protesters’ demands for his resignation gained momentum on 9 July, when protesters stormed the presidential residence in Colombo and other government buildings in the capital. Rajapaksa left the country on 13 July.
News portal ‘Daily Mirror’ quoted a source close to Rajapaksa as saying that Rajapaksa would return to the country on Saturday. The former president flew to the Maldives in a Sri Lanka Air Force flight, from where he flew to Singapore and tendered his resignation on 13 July. He then went to Thailand and temporarily surrendered.
You can stay in Thailand for up to 90 days
Thailand’s Foreign Minister D Pramudawinai said former President Rajapaksa could stay in Thailand for up to 90 days as he still holds a diplomatic passport. Rajapaksa is currently staying at a hotel in Thailand’s capital Bangkok, where police have advised him to stay indoors for security reasons.
After the removal of Rajapaksa, the Parliament of Sri Lanka appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new President. According to media reports, Wickremesinghe has arranged for Rajapaksa’s return. Sri Lankan Podujana Peramuna, led by the Rajapaksa family, requested to make arrangements for Gotabaya’s return.
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Tags: economic crisis, Sri Lanka, world News
First Published: September 01, 2022, 21:45 IST
