Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left Singapore Thursday, the city-state’s immigration workplace mentioned, after his social go to move expired.
“The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) confirms that Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa left Singapore on 11 August 2022,” the workplace mentioned in reply to an AFP question.
It didn’t say the place the previous chief was headed to however the Thai overseas ministry, in addition to a supply in Colombo, mentioned Wednesday he was in search of a brand new protected haven in Thailand.
Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives on July 13 after which to Singapore, the place he introduced his resignation after months of protests over Sri Lanka’s financial meltdown.
Tens of 1000’s of individuals overran his official residence final month over acute shortages of meals, gas and medication endured by Sri Lanka’s 22 million individuals since late final 12 months.
“His Singapore visa runs out on Thursday,” an in depth affiliate of Rajapaksa instructed AFP in Colombo.
“He had utilized for an extension, but it surely had not come via as of Wednesday morning.”
The supply mentioned Rajapaksa now deliberate to go to Thailand for a brief keep and return to Singapore.
The Thai overseas ministry confirmed it had obtained a request from Colombo for the 73-year-old deposed chief to go to Thailand and an assurance that he wouldn’t search political asylum there.
“The Thai aspect obtained a request for the previous president to enter Thailand from the present authorities of Sri Lanka,” ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat mentioned in an announcement.
“The keep is momentary in nature with the purpose of onward journey. No political asylum has been sought.”
Sri Lankans arriving in Singapore get a 30-day visa, however Singapore authorities mentioned they’d initially given Rajapaksa solely two weeks and later prolonged the visa by one other two weeks.
The Rajapaksa confidant instructed AFP that he was eager to return dwelling as protests towards his administration had fizzled out, however his successor Ranil Wickremesinghe had suggested him towards an early return.
