Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    OKX to Award over USD200k in Prizes with OKX Crypto Cricket Cup Campaign for Cricket Fans

    October 4, 2023

    Bar-Ilan University introduces game-changing blood sugar monitor for smartphones

    October 4, 2023

    Diplomatic rift grows as India seeks repulsion of 41 Canadian diplomats

    October 4, 2023
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Amman PressAmman Press
    • Automotive
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Health
    • Luxury
    • Lifestyle
    • News
    • More
      • Sports
      • Technology
      • Travel
    Amman PressAmman Press
    You are at:Home » Ahead of expected resignation, Sri Lankan President flees to the Maldives
    News

    Ahead of expected resignation, Sri Lankan President flees to the Maldives

    July 13, 2022
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    An Antonov-32 aircraft with four passengers on board took off from the main international airport carrying the impeached Sri Lankan leader and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his wife and a bodyguard, immigration officials said. Following months of widespread protests against the worst economic crisis in the nation’s history, Sri Lanka’s embattled president flew to the Maldives early Wednesday.

    Ahead of expected resignation, Sri Lankan President flees to the MaldivesAfter fleeing his official residence in Colombo before tens of thousands of protesters overran it, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had promised to resign on Wednesday and allow a peaceful transition of power. To avoid the possibility of being detained, Rajapaksa is believed to have wanted to go abroad before stepping down while enjoying immunity from arrest.

    Male Airport officials said they were driven to an undisclosed location under police escort when they arrived in the Maldives. The departure of the 73-year-old leader once known as The Terminator had been stalled for more than 24 hours in a shameful stand-off with immigration personnel in Colombo. The staff at Bandaranaike International Airport refused to offer VIP services to Rajapaksa, demanding that all passengers must pass through public counters if they want to fly to Dubai commercially.

    Security officials said the presidential party was hesitant to use regular channels out of fear of public reaction, which resulted in them missing four flights to the UAE on Monday. It was not immediately possible to secure clearance for a military flight to land in India, and at one point the group headed to a naval base with the intention of fleeing by sea, a security official said.

    Earlier Tuesday, Basil Rajapaksa, who resigned in April as finance minister, missed his own Emirates flight to Dubai after a tense standoff with airport employees. Basil, who holds dual citizenship with the United States and Sri Lanka, tried to use a paid concierge service for business travelers. However, airport and immigration officials said fast track services had been discontinued. An airport official said that many passengers protested Basil boarding their flight. The situation was tense, so he hurriedly left the airport.

    The Sri Lanka Immigration and Emigration Officers Association said that its team members declined to serve Basil Rajapaksa at the VIP departure lounge at Colombo airport. Given the unrest in Sri Lanka, immigration officials are under tremendous pressure to not allow top-level people to leave the country, according to K. A. S. Kanugala, chairman of the association.

    An official source said a suitcase full of documents, as well as 17.85 million rupees (about $50,000) in cash, had also been left at the stately mansion. He remained commander-in-chief of the armed forces with military resources at his disposal despite no official word from the president’s office about his whereabouts. Rajapaksa is accused of fraud, embezzlement, and manipulating the economy so that the country cannot finance even essential imports, resulting in severe hardships for the 22 million people.

    Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will automatically take over as president if Gotabaya steps down as he promised until the Parliament elects a MP to finish out the term. In November 2024, the term of the president ends. However, Wickremesinghe himself has indicated he is willing to step down if a consensus can be reached on forming a unity government.

    It could take between three days to convene parliament – the minimum allowed under the statute – and up to 30 days to complete the succession process. According to the parliamentary speaker, if Rajapaksa steps down on Wednesday, a vote will take place on July 20. During the 2019 presidential election, Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya, lost to Rajapaksa. He has announced he will run for the post again. During a Tamil rebel suicide bombing in May 1993, Premadasa’s father, Ranasinghe Premadasa, was assassinated.

    Related Posts

    Diplomatic rift grows as India seeks repulsion of 41 Canadian diplomats

    By Elsabeth SchneiderOctober 4, 2023

    Amazon drought results in over 100 dolphin deaths

    By Elsabeth SchneiderOctober 2, 2023

    UAE and India discuss strategic ties at UNGA78 in New York

    By Elsabeth SchneiderSeptember 26, 2023

    Leaders of UAE and Netherlands convene to reinforce mutual cooperation

    By Elsabeth SchneiderSeptember 26, 2023
    Latest News

    Bar-Ilan University introduces game-changing blood sugar monitor for smartphones

    October 4, 2023

    A trailblazing development from Bar-Ilan University’s Faculty of Engineering is revolutionizing the world of health tech. Professor…

    Diplomatic rift grows as India seeks repulsion of 41 Canadian diplomats

    October 4, 2023

    Post-holiday blues hit Hong Kong’s Chinese equities as economic concerns rise

    October 4, 2023

    Finland blazes a trail with the world’s first digital passport system

    October 3, 2023

    World Bank’s revised outlook for East Asia reflects China’s economic hurdles

    October 3, 2023

    Amazon drought results in over 100 dolphin deaths

    October 2, 2023
    © 2023 Amman Press | All Rights Reserved
    • Home
    • Contact Us

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.