President flees the country on a military jet

13 July 2022 04:46 am

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country for the Maldives early on Wednesday morning, along with his wife and two security officers amid mass scale protests against him.

Rajpaksa landed at the Velena International Airport in the Maldives at 3.07 am on Wednesday and the Maldives capital was under heavy security at that time, sources confirmed to Daily Mirror.

Sources said that President Mohammed Nasheed had requested President Ibrahim Solih for the Rajapaksas to land in Maldives and clearance was received.

Rajapaksa is expected to be in the Maldives on transit before flying to another destination which is yet to be known. (JAMILA HUSAIN)