Gotabaya Rajapaksha to fly from Maldives to Singapore

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On a Sri Lankan Air Force aircraft, former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in Male, the capital of the Maldives, and will depart for Singapore on Wednesday.

According to ANI in the Maldives who spoke to the Daily Mirror, Rajapaksa, who left for the Maldives early this morning, will depart for Singapore later on Wednesday. Early on Wednesday, Rajapaksa touched in at Velana International Airport in the Maldives.

Rajapaksa has departed the nation, as verified by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Rajapaksa prepared a SLAF aircraft to travel to the Maldives in accordance with his presidential powers and with the Ministry of Defense’s consent, according to a statement from the Sri Lankan Air Force.

Officials in Sri Lanka confirmed on Wednesday that Rajapaksa and his wife, together with two bodyguards, travelled to the Maldives with the full clearance of the nation’s Defense Ministry.

“According to the request of the Government in accordance with the powers vested in an Executive President in the Constitution of Sri Lanka, His Excellency the President and the Lady along with two bodyguards from Katunayake International Airport to the Maldives subject to the full approval of the Ministry of Defence subject to immigration, customs and all other laws at Katunayake International Airport. An Air Force flight was given clearance early in the morning on July 13, 2022 to depart,” Sri Lankan Air Force Media Director said in a statement.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, the acting president of Sri Lanka, gave the police and military orders to contain the situation.

Protesters who had gathered outside the office of the Sri Lankan prime minister have taken over his home on Flower Road as demonstrations in the country’s capital city of Colombo have grown more violent.

To disperse protesters from Colombo’s streets, security officers used tear gas shells.

Wednesday, as security personnel stationed outside Wickremesinghe’s home prepared to tear gas demonstrators, Wickremesinghe declared an emergency and enforced a curfew in the country’s western province. Additionally, air patrols has begun in the area of the PM’s home.

Sajith Premadasa, the head of the nation’s opposition, asserted that the PM is not permitted to use the President’s powers, including the ability to impose curfews and declare emergencies.

“PM becomes acting President only if the President appoints him as such, or if the office of President is vacant, or if the CJ in consultation with the Speaker forms the view that the President is unable to act,” Premadasa tweeted.

“In the absence of any of these, the PM cannot exercise the powers of President, and cannot declare curfew or a state of emergency,” he said in another tweet.

Military personnel used tear gas shells to disperse protestors who scaled the wall to enter the Sri Lankan PM’s residence in Colombo.