Former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has arrived in Thailand, seeking temporary shelter in a second South-East Asian country after fleeing his island nation last month amid mass protests.
Key points:
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka on July 14, resigning shortly afterwards following massive protests against his government
- Thailand’s Foreign Minister says Mr Rajapaksa’s diplomatic passport will allow him to stay in the country for 90 days
- Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst economic crisis in several decades
On Thursday, Mr Rajapaksa arrived at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport on a chartered flight from Singapore, according to three Reuters witnesses.
He fled Sri Lanka for Singapore on July 14, resigning shortly afterwards following unprecedented unrest over his government’s handling of the country’s worst economic crisis in seven decades.
His resignation came days after thousands of protesters stormed the president’s official residence and office.
Thai authorities said the former military officer, who is the first Sri Lankan head of state to quit mid-term, had no intention of seeking political asylum and would only stay temporarily.
“This is a humanitarian issue and there is an agreement that it’s a temporary stay,” Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Wednesday.
Mr Rajapaksa could not participate in any political activities while in Thailand, he added.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister, Don Pramudwinai, said the Sri Lankan government supported Mr Rajapaksa’s trip to Thailand, adding that the former president’s diplomatic passport would allow him to stay for 90 days.
Mr Rajapaksa has made no public appearances or comments since leaving Sri Lanka.
Reuters was not able to immediately contact him.
Sri Lanka’s economic crisis is a result of several factors, including COVID-19 — which battered its tourism-reliant economy and slashed remittances from workers overseas — rising oil prices, populist tax cuts and a seven-month ban on the import of chemical fertilisers last year that devastated agriculture.
Reuters
Ousted Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrives in Thailand seeking temporary shelter & Latest News Update
Ousted Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrives in Thailand seeking temporary shelter & More Live News
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