Colombo: Sri Lanka’s president was considering using a navy patrol craft to flee the island on Tuesday following a standoff with airport immigration, official sources said.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa has promised to resign on Wednesday and clear the way for a “peaceful transition of power” following widespread protests against him over the country’s worst economic crisis. The 73year-old leader fled his official residence in Colombo just before tens of thousands of protesters overran it on Saturday. He then wanted to travel to Dubai, officials said.
As president, Rajapaksa enjoys immunity from arrest, and is believed to want to go abroad before stepping down to avoid the possibility of being detained. But immigration officers refused to go to the VIP suite to stamp his passport, while he insisted he would not go through public facilities, fearing reprisals from other airport users.
The president and his wife spent the night at a military base next to the main Bandaranaike International airport after missing four flights that could have taken them to the UAE.
Rajapaksa’s brother and ex-finance minister Basil, missed his own flight to Dubai early on Tuesday after a similar standoff with airport staff. He was turned back at Colombo airport as he attempted to leave the country through the VIP terminal, an immigration officer said. He tried to leave the nation a day before Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena is expected to publicly announce President Rajapaksa’s resignation to the nation.
Bu hikaye The Times of India Mumbai dergisinin July 13, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Times of India Mumbai dergisinin July 13, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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