Sri Lankan president flies out of nation: Report | World News

Sri Lanka's embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flew in a foreign country early Wednesday heading to the neighbouring Maldives, native officers mentioned.

The 73-year-old chief, his spouse and a bodyguard have been amongst 4 passengers on board an Antonov-32 Sri Lankan army plane which took off from Colombo's worldwide airport, immigration officers instructed AFP.

"Their passports have been stamped and so they boarded the particular air pressure flight," an immigration official concerned within the course of mentioned. There was no instant affirmation Rajapaksa had reached the Maldives.

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Airport officers mentioned the plane was held up for over an hour on the tarmac with out having the ability to take off following confusion over permission to land within the Maldives.

"There have been some anxious moments, however ultimately all the pieces labored out OK," an airport official mentioned, asking to not be named.

"The plane is because of land on the Male worldwide airport."

Lots of the president's entourage didn't journey with him on board the plane, he added.

That they had travelled to the airport with the President on Monday to board a flight to Dubai, however have been turned again after a tense standoff over stamping their passports by means of a VIP service.

Rajapaksa had earlier promised to announce his resignation Wednesday, saying that he needs to permit a "peaceable transition of energy".

He fled from his official residence within the capital on Saturday after tens of 1000's of indignant protesters stormed it, following months of demonstrations calling for his resignation over the nation's worst-ever financial disaster.

He had needed to journey overseas whereas he nonetheless loved immunity from prosecution earlier than stepping all the way down to keep away from the opportunity of being detained.

His earlier makes an attempt to rearrange a army flight to Sri Lanka's closest neighbour India failed as clearance for a army plane to land in a civilian airport was not given.