Sri Lanka’s ousted president expected to go to Thailand

GBNEWS24DESK//

Sri Lanka’s ousted president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is expected to arrive in Thailand on Thursday, seeking temporary shelter in a second Southeast Asian country after fleeing his island nation last month amid mass protests, two sources said.

Rajapaksa fled to Singapore on Jul 14, via the Maldives, following unprecedented unrest triggered by Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis in seven decades and days after thousands of protesters stormed the president’s official residence and office.

The retired military officer then resigned from the presidency, becoming the first Sri Lankan president to quit mid-term, reports Reuters.

The former president is expected to leave Singapore and go to Thailand’s capital Bangkok on Thursday, two sources said, asking not to be named.

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Thai government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said “no comment”.

Rajapaksa has not made any public appearances or comments since leaving Sri Lanka, and Singapore’s government said this month that the city-state had not accorded him any privileges or immunity.

A member of the influential Rajapaksa family, the 73-year-old served in the Sri Lankan military and later as defence secretary.