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Sri Lanka's former president tipped to return to crisis-hit nation next week
Former President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled from the island country which was hit by a crisis last month in the midst of mass protests, is expected to return to the country next week, according to a senior minister.
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told CNN Wednesday night that the Sri Lanka government had been told about the return of Rajapaksa “through diplomatic channels.”
Officially we do not have a role in returns. He is a citizen of Sri Lanka and can travel as he wants,” Sabry said.
Rajapaksa cousin who was alienated by Udayanga Weeratunga, former Sri Lanka Ambassador to Russia, told reporters Wednesday that the former leader would return on August 24.
Rajapaksa was in Thailand after escaping from Sri Lanka in July by military aircraft for the Maldives, and then traveled to Singapore, a few days after an angry protector invaded his residence and official office.He submitted his resignation from Singapore, while public anger grew on the alleged fault of economy.
Out of the former leader who was in a hurry -the village was a historic moment for the country of 22 million, which was governed by Rajapaksa family members with an iron fist for the past two decades.Anger has grown in Sri Lanka for months after the country’s foreign exchange reserves plummeted to record the lowest, with the dollar running out to pay important imports including food, medicines and fuel.
Rajapaksa’s brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to resign as prime minister in May when public anger grew up on the crisis.
His departure occurred during the day of chaos and violence that culminated on the police who forced curfew throughout the country.
President Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe reportedly said that at the end of July it was “not the right time” for Gotabaya Rajapaksa to return to the country because it could ignite political tensions.
