Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Photo : ANI
A Saudi airlines flight – SV 788 – carrying Rajapaksa landed at the Singapore Changi International Airport shortly after 7 pm (local time). Officials however have clarified that the former President has neither sought nor been granted asylum. The spokesperson said that Singapore generally does not grant requests for asylum.
The Sri Lankans who arrived at the airport described the 73-year-old Rajapaksa as a “fugitive”, “corrupt”, and “a war criminal”, outpouring their anger over the president’s “U-turn from his promise of resignation” on Wednesday and escape from Colombo to the Maldives, triggering a fresh wave of protests in the island nation.
Rajapaksa, who enjoys immunity from prosecution while he is president, fled the country without resigning to avoid the possibility of arrest by the new government. While initial reports had indicated that the Rajapaksas were trying to fly out of Colombo and into UAE, later updates indicate that they intend to stay in Singapore.
