Last minute escape from President’s House for GR and co. on 9 July

Basil, senior security personnel also at President’s house when crowds stormed

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GR’s future plans after resignation and surrendering official passport

GR and co. leave country on SLAF Antonov AN-32 to the Maldives

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GR and co. leave the Maldives on SV 788 to final destination – Singapore

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By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

Beleaguered former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa became the first president of Sri Lanka to be forced out of office mid-term as well as flee the country after facing months of protests by the public that finally resulted in thousands storming into the President’s House, Presidential Secretariat, and Temple Trees on 9 July.

Rajapaksa also set more records by making his flight to Singapore from the Maldives become the most-tracked flight, while the people in Sri Lanka continued to wait in anticipation for his resignation letter, which kept getting delayed along with delays in his flight plans.

The resignation letter was first due on Wednesday (13). However, even by Thursday (14) morning, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s office had not received it. The delay in reaching his final destination was attributed to the delay in Rajapaksa submitting his resignation letter, as his official passport was required for safe passage to his final destination.

The letter was finally e-mailed to the Speaker’s Office by Sri Lanka’s High Commission in Singapore about an hour after Rajapaksa and his group arrived in Singapore. However, Speaker Abeywardena noted the legal issue in accepting this as Rajapaksa’s resignation letter since he required the original letter with his original signature. The Sri Lankan mission was informed to immediately dispatch the original letter through an embassy courier. The Speaker meanwhile sought the opinion of the Attorney General and Chief Justice on the matter.

However, Speaker Abeywardena on Friday (15) announced Rajapaksa’s resignation and Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe was officially sworn in as Acting President afterwards.

Interestingly, it was the former Maldivian President and incumbent Speaker, Mohomad Nasheed who tweeted on Thursday (14) saying Rajapaksa has resigned. “President GR has resigned. I hope Sri Lanka can now move forward. I believe the President would not have resigned if he were still in Sri Lanka, and fearful of losing his life. I commend the thoughtful actions of the Govt. of Maldives. My best wishes to the people of Sri Lanka,” he tweeted.

However, the Opposition in the Maldivian Parliament were displeased with the Maldivian Government’s decision to accept Rajapaksa into the country. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Opposition MP Dunya Maumoon stated that a motion would be presented to the Maldivian Parliament by the Opposition seeking an explanation from the Government about its decision.

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