Sri Lankan President leaves Maldives for Singapore

Published on : 14/07/2022 – 09:16Modified : 14/07/2022 – 09:41

While Sri Lankans are still awaiting the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the day following his flight to the Maldives in a context of acute political crisis caused by a catastrophic economic situation, the demonstrators announce their withdrawal from official buildings. For his part, President Rajapaksa left the Maldives for Singapore. Follow the latest developments live on our page.

• 9:52 a.m.: President leaves Maldives for Singapore

President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, left the Maldives where he had found refuge following leaving Sri Lanka, to go to Singapore. The president and his wife Ioma and two bodyguards were escorted onto the plane minutes before take-off from Velana International Airport in Male, the same source said.

• 8:35 a.m.: Protesters announce their departure from occupied buildings

Sri Lankan protesters, who coerced the president, Gotabaya Rajapaksato flee the country following the invasion of his residence last weekend, announced Thursday, July 14, that they were going to evacuate the public buildings occupied for several days.

“We are peacefully withdrawing from the presidential palace, the presidential secretariat and the prime minister’s offices with immediate effect, but we will continue our fight,” a spokeswoman said.

Hours before the withdrawal was announced, police pushed back protesters trying to enter parliament.

>> To read: “In Sri Lanka, ‘political renewal will not be easy’ following the departure of the president

• 5:52 a.m .: Sri Lanka awaits the resignation of the president

Sri Lankans were awaiting the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday. The latter has repeatedly assured the Speaker of Parliament that he would resign on Wednesday, but his letter of resignation was still, according to an adviser to Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.