Former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa is back in Sri Lanka, nearly two months after fleeing the island nation amid mass protests, but he faces calls for charges against him over policy missteps that led to the country’s worst economic crisis.
The 73-year-old returned late on Friday night under the protection of the new government of Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe.
A group of lawmakers and ministers welcomed him at the capital Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport with garlands and flower bouquets.
The government has provided him with a new official residence in Colombo. Police officials and soldiers were there for his security.
Although the authorities had expected a resurgence of the intense citizens’ protests that drove Mr Rajapaksa out, Sri Lankans reeling under severe food and fuel shortages and 65 per cent inflation seem to have responded to his return with a stunned silence. There were no reports of protests on Saturday.
Denne historien er fra September 04, 2022-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 04, 2022-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Meet Blackpink's Lisa at Marquee party on Nov 9
Get ready to meet Thai singer Lisa of K-pop girl group Blackpink ahead of her first solo fan meeting in Singapore at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Nov 11.
Actors Channing Tatum, Zoe Kravitz split up after three years
American actor Channing Tatum and American actress Zoe Kravitz have gone their separate ways, according to various reports by the US media.
Teri Garr brightened up comedies Tootsie, Young Frankenstein
LOS ANGELES - Academy Award-nominated American actress Teri Garr (right), whose sunny personality lit up the screen in films such as Young Frankenstein (1974) and Tootsie (1982), died on Oct 29 at age 79.
Hello Kitty still raking in millions at age 50
TOKYO - Hello Kitty, the cute, enigmatic character that adorns everything from handbags to rice cookers, turns 50 on Nov 1 - and is still making millions for her Japanese creators.
Actress Diana Danielle divorces actor Farid Kamil again
KUALA LUMPUR – A year after reconciling with her husband, Malaysian actor Farid Kamil, Malaysian singer-actress Diana Danielle is filing for divorce again.
Printed jeans take fashion world by storm
UNITED STATES - Swedish fashion house Acne Studios makes US$800 (S$1,060) jeans that look like something a roofer would wear to a rave.
Taking a shine to lab-grown diamonds
Demand for more affordable synthetic alternatives is on the rise as mined diamonds lose their lustre
Artist and model Ella Emhoff under the political spotlight
The stepchild of United States, Vice-President Kamala Harris has been getting more scrutiny after 2021's Inauguration Day
Van Nistelrooy vows to help United in any role
LONDON - Manchester United caretaker manager Ruud van Nistelrooy said he will help the club \"in any capacity\" as reports suggest that Ruben Amorim is getting closer to being named as Erik ten Hag's successor.
DOUGLASS' HALLOWEEN TREAT
She breaks pact over 'trick' headbands, then breaks 200m breast world mark
