Bangkok ∙ Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the former president of Sri Lanka, who left the country after the popular uprising, has gone to Thailand. Thailand has been requested to allow Gotabaya, who is in Singapore, to stay temporarily.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand said that Gotabaya has not sought political asylum and that he is coming with a diplomatic passport and will not be prevented from staying in the country for 90 days. Gotabaya arrived in Singapore with his wife on July 14. Reports are that it will reach Bangkok today.
Although the Sri Lankan government has not officially responded to this matter, President Ranil Wickramasinghe stated in an interview to a foreign newspaper last month that it is not time for Gotabaya to come home. Ranil had pointed out that there was no indication of his return and if he did, he would not get any other legal protection.
The popular uprising in Sri Lanka, which gained world attention by removing the president, officially came to an end yesterday. The protestors left the protest site at Golfface. They also stated that the campaign to change the country’s system will continue. Ending the 123-day strike, the leaders said that they will not back down from their demands such as withdrawing the state of emergency, ending the presidential system and holding new elections.
In a petition in the Supreme Court, the ban imposed on Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother Basil from leaving the country was extended till September 5, stating that it was the Rajapakse family and officials who destroyed the country’s economic scene.
English Summary: Gotabaya Rajapaksa leaving to thailand