Sri Lanka President Rajapaksa to resign immediately? What we all know up to now | World News

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is because of supply his resignation immediately, flew in another country and landed in Maldives within the wee hours of Wednesday as protests grew louder over the devastating financial disaster. The political chaos, triggered by a extreme scarcity of overseas forex, stalled imports of necessities resembling gasoline, meals and medicines for months.

Earlier this week, Rajapaksa had fled his residence to shift to a protected location as demonstrators stormed his official residence in Colombo. Leaders of the protest had mentioned that they'd occupy the residence of each the president and the prime minister, till they give up the federal government for as soon as and for all.

Fleeing Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan president, who has been in hiding ever since protestors stormed his official residence in Colombo, took a army aircraft and fled the nation alongside together with his spouse and bodyguard. He was acquired by Maldives authorities officers on the Velana airport in Male and brought to an undisclosed location.

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Because the president, Rajapaksa enjoys immunity from arrest, which means, he can depart the nation if he wished to, with a purpose to keep away from being detained after stepping down.

In an announcement, the Sri Lankan Air Pressure mentioned that Rajapaksa, his spouse and two bodyguards had acquired full approval by the authorities to fly to Maldives.

“Sri Lankan President, the primary girl together with 2 bodyguards have been subjected to full approval by Ministry of Protection for immigration, customs and different legal guidelines to fly to Maldives. Air Pressure plane was supplied to them in early morning of July 13,” mentioned Sri Lankan Air Pressure media director.

A suitcase stuffed with paperwork was reportedly left behind on the stately mansion together with 17.85 million Sri Lankan rupees (about $50,000) in money, now within the custody of a Colombo court docket.

Resignation

Rajapaksa had promised that he would resign on Wednesday to clear the way in which for a "peaceable transition of energy". The Speaker has not acquired a resignation letter but, even because the president left the nation.

If he steps down, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will mechanically turn out to be appearing president till parliament elects an MP to serve out the presidential time period, which ends in November 2024.

Nonetheless, Wickremesinghe too has introduced his willingness to step down if consensus is reached on forming a unity authorities.

If Rajapaksa does step down on Wednesday, the vote would happen on July 20, the parliamentary speaker mentioned. The succession course of to announce a brand new authorities needs to be accomplished in 30 days.