A government source says Gotabaya Rajapaksa left for the city of Male, the capital of the Maldives. The president would most likely proceed to another Asian country from there, the source adds.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country early on Wednesday, July 13, two sources told Reuters, hours before he was due to step down amid widespread protests over his handling of a devastating economic crisis.
The immigration official said authorities could not under law prevent a sitting president from leaving the country. The Rajapaksa family, including former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, has dominated the politics of the country of 22 million for years and most Sri Lankans blame them for current problems.
Petrol has been severely rationed and long lines have formed in front of shops selling cooking gas. Headline inflation hit 54.6% last month and the central bank has warned that it could rise to 70% in coming months.
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