Sri Lanka president on the run: Rajapaksa exits Singapore for Thailand
Story highlights
Sri Lanka’s former president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is expected to arrive in Thailand on Thursday and stay temporarily in a second Southeast Asian country since fleeing his island nation last month in the midst of mass protests.
Sri Lanka's former president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has left Singapore, the city-state's immigration office said, after his social visit pass expired.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled his island nation last month after widespread protests, is expected to land in Thailand and spend some time there before moving on to another Southeast Asian nation.
Following enormous turmoil over his administration's handling of the greatest economic crisis in seven decades and days after tens of thousands of protestors stormed the president's official mansion and office, Rajapaksa fled to Singapore on July 14 and resigned from office shortly after.
trending now
)
Tragedy at Telangana Air Force academy: Two Indian Air Force pilots killed in aircraft crash during training
)
11 climbers die in volcanic eruption in Indonesia, search ops halted due to lava discharge
)
WATCH | 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw and Eagles security chief Big Dom ejected after on-field confrontation
)
India state election results: PM Modi's BJP scores a sweeping 3/4 in crucial test before 2024 final
)
Moo-d boosting therapy: This farm offers relaxation through unique cow cuddling sessions
)
Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023 Results Live Updates: BJP ally MNF confident of securing another term
)
Hamas-run govt says 700 Palestinians killed in 24 hours as Israel intensifies operations across Gaza
)
New York stabbing attack: Four killed in Queens neighbourhood as police shoots suspect dead
)
Jason Momoa's Deep Rising, Pleistocene Park by Luke Griswald win top awards at ALT EFF 2023
)
This groundbreaking new drug is all set to increase life span of large dogs
)
Buoyed by electoral success, PM Modi asks oppn not to vent ire on first day of parliament’s winter session
)
Indian PM Modi hails four-state election results as victory of 'politics of development'
)
India's Arshdeep Singh reveals thought process in clinical match-winning last over vs Australia in 5th T20I
)
CID star Dinesh Phadnis aka Fredericks is on ventilator support: Report
)
Morning brief: Ex-US ambassador to Bolivia arrested, and more
Rajapaksa will reportedly return to Sri Lanka in November when his 90-day visa to Thailand expires and as he runs out of options to find temporary refuge in another nation.
Watch: End of the road for Sri Lanka's 'Terminator' President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Rajapaksa will be allowed admission into Thailand on humanitarian grounds, and the Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-O-Cha, yesterday assured foreign media that it would only be a brief visit.
In order to get Rajapaksa's permission to take up temporary residence in Thailand, the Sri Lankan government had filed a direct plea on his behalf.
The Sri Lankan administration has been in contact with the governments of Singapore, the Maldives, and now Thailand since Rajapaksa left Colombo last month for the Maldives to make arrangements for Rajapaksa to temporarily stay in those nations.
According to the Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror, only the Air Force jet that took him and his wife from Colombo to Male last month was paid for with state money. The other expenses for the Rajapaksas to depart the nation were covered by him and his son, Manoj Rajapaksa.
The former President's accommodations are being paid for by wealthy businesses thanks to the Rajapaksas' strong contacts abroad.
(With inputs from agencies)
WATCH WION LIVE HERE
You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.
