Colombo: Former President Gotabaya Rajapakse, who fled the country fearing protests, returns to Sri Lanka. Cabinet Spokesperson Bandula Gunawardena said that Rajapakse is not absconding and will return to the country from Singapore. Bandula stated this in a press conference held in Colombo.
Rajapakse fled Sri Lanka after protests against the government by people angry over the island nation’s economic crisis. Rajapakse, who first fled to the Maldives, would have left for Singapore on July 13.
Rajapakse has been granted entry to Singapore for a personal visit. Rajapakse has not sought asylum. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singapore informed that he has not been granted asylum. The Singapore MFA has also previously stated that Singapore generally does not grant asylum applications.
Meanwhile, a South Africa-based organization filed a criminal complaint with the Singapore Attorney General demanding the arrest of the former Sri Lankan president. They filed a complaint alleging crimes related to wars. The 63-page complaint was filed by lawyers from the International Truth and Justice Project. In the complaint, they claim that Rajapaksa committed serious violations during the civil war in 2009 and these are crimes.
On July 9, protesters barged into the office and residence of the President and Prime Minister. Clashes then broke out between protesters and security forces in Colombo. Fuel shortages and worsening financial crisis have brought people to the streets. Fuel shortages in the country have forced schools and government offices to close until further notice. Low domestic agricultural production, a lack of foreign exchange reserves and a devaluation of the local currency have fueled the shortage.