Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s outgoing president, is said to have headed to an airbase near Colombo’s international airport after fleeing the presidential palace. According to information collected by AFP, the official went to this air base at a time when protests were taking place in the country. This movement gives strength to the theory that the Rajapaksa may try to flee the country after thousands of protesters stormed the presidential palace.
During the morning, both the president of Sri Lanka and the prime minister agreed to resign, after this invasion of the palace, this Saturday. Sri Lanka has been the scene of protests in recent days, especially due to the financial crisis in the country. Protests intensified over the weekend, with crowds indicating they would not leave the streets until Sri Lanka’s top rulers stepped down.
The pressure paid off and a spokesman for the Sri Lankan Parliament announced the resignation of the two leaders, indicating that it will take effect on July 13. The spokesman mentioned that both the president and the prime minister want a “peaceful transition of power.”
As soon as the protesters entered the presidential palace, taking advantage of the palace swimming pool, the president of Sri Lanka was removed from these premises.
Until this information that the President had traveled to this airbase became known, further news about Rajapaksa’s whereabouts was unknown. AFP cites a Sri Lankan defense official as a source, who indicates that the 73-year-old ruler would have taken refuge first in the country’s naval facilities, having later traveled to this air base, which shares space with the Bandaranaike international airport.
Source: Observadora
