GR RETURNS TO SRI LANKA

2 September 2022 11:58 pm - 45 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka a short while ago on board a Singapore Airlines flight after fleeing the country in July, the Daily Mirror learns.

Rajapaksa arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport a short while ago amidst a heavy security presence.
Rajapaksa will be living in a state bungalow close to Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo while a large security contingency will be appointed to maintain security in the area.

Several ministers arrived at the BIA to welcome the former President.

Rajapaksa resigned from the Presidency in July amidst mass scale protests calling for his resignation as Sri Lanka was plunged into one of its worst ever economic crisis.

He fled to the Maldives on board an airforce aircraft and then entered Singapore on a medical visa, which was extended twice.

As the Singapore government failed to extend it the third time, Rajapaksa along with his wife left for Thailand where he was advised to remain inside his hotel for security reasons.

With his movements restricted, Rajapaksa decided to return back to Sri Lanka and will remain here till his application for the USA Green Card is approved by the American government.

Rajapaksa will be accorded all privieliedges as a former president and will be allocated additional security. He will reside at the state allocated bungalow. (JAMILA HUSAIN)

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Comments - 45

Ketheesh Waran Saturday, 03 September 2022 12:25 AM

What a disgrace for Sri Lanka. Ranil betrayed Srilankans. Gotabaya is the sole person for the miserly of the country but he is given House, security and all kind of privileges' using Tax payors money, whereas most of them are only having 1 or 2 meals a day. I wish Aragalaya should commence again

Tony Pereira Saturday, 03 September 2022 03:11 AM

Welcome back, Hon. President. No one chased you out of the country. They only wanted you to resign from the Presidency. Now, the government has spent millions in your hopping from one country to another in addition to the accommodation etc. Who pays for this $$$, which SL does not have. Irresponsible behavior!!

Ram Saturday, 03 September 2022 04:38 AM

Welcome back. People asked you to go home and not overseas though you decided that way. Please don't meddle with politics but stay in retirement doing some meritorious acts

Lion Saturday, 03 September 2022 04:43 AM

Now keep silence ,all your boys who worship ed you have crowned a king who was in the dust bin of politics using a paper called constitution made by them. His period of illegal stay might come to an end at any time. So don’t open your mouth to the press because you don’t know what your saying. So be a good boy and keep calm.

Iwazaru Saturday, 03 September 2022 05:52 AM

Nice. This is trigger a second phase of the Aragalaya.

Ceylonese Saturday, 03 September 2022 06:10 AM

Does a former President who fled the country through the back door seeking asylum overseas then offered his resignation having stolen the wealth of the country plunging the economy into deep debt deserve to be accorded a grand welcome back with high security and a state bungalow to live? Instead should have been arrested on arrival at the airport and locked up in jail. This sounds like a fairy tale during the times of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka.

Curious Saturday, 03 September 2022 06:29 AM

Have no political affiliations. But the slogan 'Api thamai hondhata kare' is thought provoking.

Waco Saturday, 03 September 2022 07:12 AM

How can he be entitled for ex-President’s privileges. He vacated the post after 2-1/2 years.

Russel Harmmer Saturday, 03 September 2022 07:16 AM

Why the Govt. is spending so many millions for a ruthless President who destroyed our economy and made us to suffer. Absurd our money is spent for a devil.

Prof. G. Jebamony Saturday, 03 September 2022 07:21 AM

Hopefully, his plan to become our PM chasing Dinesh - Dirty Politics. Shame of this fellow as he has to work under President Ranil Wickramasinghe.

Meera Saturday, 03 September 2022 07:36 AM

Sir, if you enter politics again, plans have been drawn to blow up the Parliament with all 225 politicians.

Seqi Saturday, 03 September 2022 07:54 AM

O Son of Ceylon, what a privilege it is to be blessed with your presence. Your Bullock cart awaits....

Major waste of our limited resources Saturday, 03 September 2022 08:42 AM

Too much allowances for past Presidents and MPs here. All happens because parliament is not a real democratic institution. US the House of Congress member is for only two years. President elected only for 4 years. In Australia there are no fixed terms, but elections have to happen within about three years of the previous. In developed country MPs and leaders are not afforded the luxury that Sri Lanka does.

Jayasekera N Saturday, 03 September 2022 08:47 AM

Hounarable President Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe, the nation is in danger again, why all this, with who"s money, will he bieng maintained, with our money, a person who did not complete 5 years, not a former president. Well problems starts again.

Athk69 Saturday, 03 September 2022 08:57 AM

Change the headline as follows. The boot lickers will never learn. Public money being spent on a failed president who was chased away by the public at half time.

Tissa Fernando Saturday, 03 September 2022 09:13 AM

We cannot allow the diaspora and their boot and dollar licking traitors to control our country. We should protect Gota as these diaspora elements are waiting for revenge. The dollar licking so called new breed of youth are being used for this purpose.

Anura Nanayakkara Saturday, 03 September 2022 09:35 AM

Yes, Welcome back , Hon. Former President Gothabhaya Rajapaksa to mother lanka . Just stay away from active politics and try to settle in for some productive project if you want to do something.

ANTON Saturday, 03 September 2022 09:53 AM

THESE DAYS , MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN SRILANKA IS TO HEAR ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES OF ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS.

Ganaka Saturday, 03 September 2022 09:59 AM

I thought we had a fuel shortage, yet manage to find fuel for a fleet of cars to pick up a man who ran away destroying the country.

johan Saturday, 03 September 2022 10:35 AM

A failed person who destroyed the country and not accepted locally and internationally should be sent to the orphanage

Kiri putja Saturday, 03 September 2022 10:40 AM

Well come back . This is your mother land. You have rights to stay here safely

Jef Saturday, 03 September 2022 10:41 AM

Let GR have his privercy people need to focus on reality basic thinking needed how can a country go so bad whiting 2year's something so wrong its impossible the damage been excisting for long time magority past

Rathnavali Saturday, 03 September 2022 12:35 PM

His arrival is totally unnecessary, especially at a time when the country needs to finalize arrangements with IMF. What a selfish man to come here and disrupt the country! Doesn't he know that this will once again rouse the flames of anger towards him and his family and lead to restlessness among the people? People are suffering and this man who is mainly instrumental for such suffering is given a royal welcome back! Ranil will have a problem in his hands.

Perera Saturday, 03 September 2022 12:41 PM

How embarrassing. He was unwelcome in every country visited. Returned home like a dog with it's tail between it's legs. Sri Lankan trash.

Mahen Saturday, 03 September 2022 01:07 PM

Praise him for his good Buddhist morals, when recently the Iraqi presidential house was invaded similarly at least 30 were shot dead.No foreign media highlighted it.Gota was destroyed by Basil

Sam Saturday, 03 September 2022 01:26 PM

You can be a valuable asset to the country by tending Rosy's vegetable plot at the CMC. Can't think of anything else, sorry.

Sam Sen Saturday, 03 September 2022 01:33 PM

Tissa Fernando: people like you are the reason for racist politics and the present disgusting status of SL. People like you are the main reason also for the total failure of all the Sinhalese leaders of the past and present. A President with the Charisma of GR would have changed this country better than even Singapore and created a prosperous future for all Sri Lankans. This is only the start, so much of miseries are yet to come. You change your old fashioned racist mindset, else the youth will teach you a lesson like what they did to GR and MR. Days are counted anyways.

Vadivelu Yogaratnam Saturday, 03 September 2022 01:38 PM

no where to run to settle down, door closed everywhere, what a shameless politician come back home with pride even now prepare to lick peoples ash to get back to power.

Bryan Ekenaike Saturday, 03 September 2022 01:42 PM

So Sorry Sri Lanka. You have no future. Yes it will be back to the bullockcarts, milchard rice. cooperative stores, ration books etc.. Those with money will run away, but millions will have to remain and suffer. All because of the vultures and their brood circulating.

Dee Saturday, 03 September 2022 01:49 PM

What an expense this entire episode was? 2019 bombing, the 'wandha kottu' , idiots spending their own money and coming to SL in November 2019 (waving SL flags inside aircraft) to 'save the nation ' , then some came back to give ultimate power to the king in August 2020. Then again funded for lunch packets for the summer camp at GGH. Oh man!

Alan Saturday, 03 September 2022 01:59 PM

The Buddhist with the monks will make him the president again. These voters are stupid. GR is a war criminal.

Anthony. R Saturday, 03 September 2022 02:51 PM

Judiciary irs over to you,now. Let Justice prevail, if he is Guilty, pay the price.

Punchi Saturday, 03 September 2022 05:03 PM

Our country which is a haven for terminators, criminals, thief’s, corrupt politicians and monks who can’t invoke blessings of prosperity on our country, is the natural home for a person like GR who possess some of these qualities in abundance

Eksath Saturday, 03 September 2022 05:45 PM

@ Tissa Fernando, well said mate.69 problems still waiting or now even becomes worse with diaspora entering!

K. Andersson Saturday, 03 September 2022 06:03 PM

World is watching this mockery with disgust definetly. The protests commenced in the country due to grand corruption and power abuse under this same person who managed to put the country in to an unthinkable misery country is going thorugh today. Protesters who stood up demanding a System Change are locked up today. Who caused the misery is warmly welcomed spending the much needed resources. RW and all involved can never redeem their sins even by your frequent visits to temples.

Citizen Silva Saturday, 03 September 2022 06:21 PM

Time for all the pending investigations ($7 MIG deal bribe and the connected Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunga murder, numerous other white van disappearances, and funds misappropriation cases and others) to be reconvened and pursued with vigour. For someone who mismanaged and whose family pillaged the country so much, and who resigned early, it should be clarified if he is entitled to all this security, state mansion and expenses.

Cugan Saturday, 03 September 2022 06:43 PM

Guys its being done and dusted, before the US embassy, which day Ruwan Welli saya Gannakka,doesnt he tells ships loads of gas and fuel on the way for half a price

TS Saturday, 03 September 2022 08:15 PM

Ajith Perera of SJB in a press was asking the government to take legal action against Gota for his misdeeds before and after he became President. He has forgotten that he was a member of the Yahpalana government which had not put any Rajapaksas in jail for the corruption charges which they promised to people before they came to power. So its only a talk they utter when they are in opposition and never do when they come to power.

Dinesh Saturday, 03 September 2022 09:29 PM

A great friend of China is back.

Nihal Saturday, 03 September 2022 10:30 PM

A man rejected by the people, now a 10 vehicle convoy takes him to a luxurious house paid for by the people.. what a joke

Tissa Fernando Sunday, 04 September 2022 10:18 PM

He was not rejected by people. He was ousted by those who work for diaspora to achieve their long term objectives.

Tissa Fernando Saturday, 03 September 2022 10:32 PM

Sam Sen, you appear to be one of those who lick dollars from diaspora. Remember, if not for Got's contribution, you would have been a slave of Prabhakaran or would have been already blown into pieces by his supporters.

Tony Pereira Sunday, 04 September 2022 12:31 AM

Given SL politics, ex-President GR may announce that his signature on the resignation letter was bogus/fake etc. and resume his Presidency. Amazing Sri Lanka

True Democrat Sunday, 04 September 2022 07:10 AM

Most people are sadly mistaken. GR ( not his brothers or nephews) was the ideal President we could have, unfortunately Covid hit us hard in terms of Forex, he took on board some stupid advice from a learned doctor, his brother who aspires to be president one day took him for a ride which made the country loosing lot of revenue, three cornered power struggle among three of his prominent brothers and them not allowing him to perform etc. if GR stayed two terms as president, SL would have got rid of all corrupt and make the boat upright. Another failure is listening to some Viyathmaga pundits and appointing corrupt head of government outfits. Basically he was not allowed to work the way he wanted. Aragalaya has a lot of roots to anti Buddhist and colombo elites. All in all country lost the president we were looking for. People will realise this only down the years

He fled than cause protestor deaths Sunday, 04 September 2022 12:37 PM

Gota at least fled rather than force the armed forces to carry out brutal attacks to repel the invading protestors. There is enough military in our country to repel 500,000 protestors. Easily STF given order could have harmed 1000 or 2000 protestors with real bullets and the rest would have run away. Current SLPP MPs and Ranil are hellbent on revenge and suppression. Probably because Gota lived USA he respects right to protest more than those who only know our own culture.

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GR RETURNS TO SRI LANKA

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