Gotabaya blocked from flying out, may use navy patrol craft to flee
The Times of India Mumbai|July 13, 2022
Prez Brother And Ex-FM Basil Turned Back From Airport Too; Plea Filed In SC To Slap Travel Ban On Rajapaksas
Gotabaya blocked from flying out, may use navy patrol craft to flee

Colombo: Sri Lanka’s president was considering using a navy patrol craft to flee the island on Tuesday following a standoff with airport immigration, official sources said.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has promised to resign on Wednesday and clear the way for a “peaceful transition of power” following widespread protests against him over the country’s worst economic crisis. The 73year-old leader fled his official residence in Colombo just before tens of thousands of protesters overran it on Saturday. He then wanted to travel to Dubai, officials said.

As president, Rajapaksa enjoys immunity from arrest, and is believed to want to go abroad before stepping down to avoid the possibility of being detained. But immigration officers refused to go to the VIP suite to stamp his passport, while he insisted he would not go through public facilities, fearing reprisals from other airport users.

The president and his wife spent the night at a military base next to the main Bandaranaike International airport after missing four flights that could have taken them to the UAE.

Rajapaksa’s brother and ex-finance minister Basil, missed his own flight to Dubai early on Tuesday after a similar standoff with airport staff. He was turned back at Colombo airport as he attempted to leave the country through the VIP terminal, an immigration officer said. He tried to leave the nation a day before Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena is expected to publicly announce President Rajapaksa’s resignation to the nation.

This story is from the July 13, 2022 edition of The Times of India Mumbai.

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This story is from the July 13, 2022 edition of The Times of India Mumbai.

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