Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled with wife and others lands in Maldives

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the island nation with his wife, other family members and a bodyguard amid the worst-ever economic and political crises in the country, landed in Maldivian capital Malé on Wednesday. As per a press release by Sri Lanka air force, embattled President Rajapaksa left the country on a military jet and arrived in the capital of the Maldives, Male, at around 03:00  AM (local time). It is to mention that sources had told Republic TV that the incumbent President Rajapaksa has already signed his resignation papers dated July 13 which will be submitted to the Parliament Speaker on Wednesday for the formal declaration.

Earlier on Tuesday, it was reported that the Sri Lankan President had tried to flee the country on Monday night, but the airport authorities barred him from taking the flight. The local media claimed that the President tried to catch a flight to Dubai but airport staff stood in his way and forced him to beat a humiliating retreat.

As per the media reports, it was learnt that the President also tried to flee neighbouring India but the Indian government did not permit him to land amid the massive outrage in his own country. However, these reports were refuted by the Sri Lankan Immigration Department Officials Association which said there are no such provisions that could bar a President from travelling abroad, NewsCutter reported. According to A. A. S. Kanugala, President of the Sri Lankan Immigration Department Officials Association, Rajapaksa neither approached the Airport on July 11 nor 12.

PM resigns amid economic turmoil in Sri Lanka

On Saturday, a storm of protesters gathered outside the Presidential Palace and seized it despite high military security. The protestors were demanding the immediate removal of President Rajapaksa. The protestors chanted slogans against the President-- ‘Gota go gama’s or ‘Gota go’ villages, and blamed him for the entire mess ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country. This prompted the outgoing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to call for an emergency meeting with ministers and the Speaker by Saturday evening. Hours after the meeting, a dramatic situation emerged wherein the Prime Minister tendered his resignation in order to stabilise the situation. Later, late at night, the speaker announced that President Rajapaksa had agreed to resign. "He asked me to inform the country that he will prepare his resignation on Wednesday the 13th because there is a need to hand over power peacefully," Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said.

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