INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Beleaguered former Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa returned to the island a short while ago (Sep 02), Ada Derana correspondent
says.Rajapaksa fled the country after months-long mass public demonstrations demanding his immediate resignation gained momentum in July
July 12, with his wife Ioma Rajapaksa and two security officers in a military plane
government.Rajapaksa subsequently travelled to Singapore on a Saudi Airlines flight from the Maldives
He reached Changi International Airport in Singapore on July 14
His stay was later extended by the Singaporean authorities, issuing him another 14-day visit pass expiring on August 11.The Singapore
government clarified that Rajapaksa was on a private visit and not granted asylum
During his temporary stay in Singapore, Rajapaksa tendered his letter of resignation to Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena,
officially stepping down from the presidency.The 73-year-old then flew to Thailand, seeking temporary shelter
Wickremesinghe as the new Head of State
He had the backing of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the largest bloc in the 225-member parliament.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk
