Sri Lanka’s ousted president expected to go to Thailand - sources

10 August 2022 12:37 pm - 48 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka's ousted president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is expected to arrive in Thailand on Thursday, seeking temporary shelter in a second Southeast Asian country after fleeing his island nation last month amid mass protests, two sources said.

Rajapaksa fled to Singapore on July 14, via the Maldives, following unprecedented unrest triggered by Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis in seven decades and days after thousands of protesters stormed the president's official residence and office

The retired military officer then resigned from the presidency, becoming the first Sri Lankan president to quit mid-term.

The former president is expected to leave Singapore and go to Thailand's capital Bangkok on Thursday, two sources said, asking not to be named.

Sri Lanka's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Thai government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek told Reuters “no comment”.

Rajapaksa has not made any public appearances or comments since leaving Sri Lanka, and Singapore's government said this month that the city-state had not accorded him any privileges or immunity.

A member of the influential Rajapaksa family, the 73-year-old served in the Sri Lankan military and later as defence secretary.

During his time as defence secretary government forces finally defeated Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009 to end the Sri Lankan civil war. Some rights groups now want accusations thatRajapaksa committed war crimes to be investigated. Rajapaksa has previously strenuously denied the allegations.

Some critics and protesters also accuse Rajapaksa and his family of mishandling the economy during his term as president, leading to the country's worst financial crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.

His elder brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is a former president and prime minister. Their younger sibling, Basil Rajapaksa, served as finance minister till earlier this year.

Rajapaksa's successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has previously indicated that the former president should refrain from returning to Sri Lanka in the near future.

"I don't believe it's the time for him to return," Wickremesinghe told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on July 31. "I have no indication of him returning soon."

If Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka, he might not be protected under law if any charges were filed against him, legal experts have said. (Reuters)

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Comments - 48

NIHAL DHARMATILEKE Wednesday, 10 August 2022 12:51 PM

Go to any land , don’t ever come to our land you and your family destroyed this beautiful country and it’s people

Kiris Baba Amaray Wednesday, 10 August 2022 12:52 PM

Gota go to any Thoothukuddi, but please don't dream to come and settle down here in SriLanka as your days are counted if you land here.

Punchi Wednesday, 10 August 2022 12:55 PM

Thailand is not as safe as Singapore. GR is going need expensive protection and is effectively going to be living in hiding or he may meet the same fate of those that earned him the soubriquet terminator. Is he condemned to wander the world unsettled like the souls of those he terminated in our paradise ?

C Fernando Wednesday, 10 August 2022 02:33 PM

Karma at work!

Abu Hamid Mahmood Wednesday, 10 August 2022 12:56 PM

It's most helpful to know more about Sri Lanka and its people.

Rev. Fr. James Rodrigo Wednesday, 10 August 2022 12:56 PM

You will have to reap the harvest for all your wrong doings. Its God's punishment that will follow your brothers Mahinda

johan Wednesday, 10 August 2022 12:58 PM

Atleast our Foreign Affairs Minister is a giving a helping hand to this poor chap

Prof. T. Dharmalingam Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:01 PM

If you would have done good you could have been ruled our nation as a King, now like a beggar you don't have a place to stay permanently. This is a good lesson for your rest of the dirty politicians who robbed our country mainly like Mahinda

Sam Thursday, 11 August 2022 02:52 AM

Include the rest of family - the Children. Look at the houses they live. How did you get this kind of money??

WTH Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:01 PM

You can't run away from the crimes you committed forever. Those crimes will eventually catch up to you.

Edmond Weerasinghe (attorney-at-law) Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:02 PM

It's God's punishment Gota... can't help.

mohan Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:06 PM

he can have a good time there

sunil Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:07 PM

why afraid to come back to the country you claimed to have liberated

Be Fair Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:20 PM

Sunna, he was a part of the team that libertaed us from Terrorism but suffocated us Economically

roshan Wednesday, 10 August 2022 10:31 PM

He is waiting for the right time till RW gives the signal and then we will have an exterminator

Nihal S Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:08 PM

Legal community, please get organise to start those corruption, murder, abuse of power cases back to the courts. This guy is a criminal

Hina hina Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:12 PM

He wants to get a masssge.. Come back to sri lanka

TONI Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:14 PM

OH COWARD CHOCOLATE SOLDIER

Jayawe Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:18 PM

Bitter consequences of paasku massacre and 'nayi dhaathu' in Kelaniya temple...He is not belong to this world anymore..

B.M. Appusingho (Farmer from Polanaruwa) Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:24 PM

Believe me its the curse of our prestigious Farmers, well you will have to suffer and die in some other country.

Kumar Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:25 PM

Why run around the world. Namal can help to settle him with all the wealth they looted from this country. Either Seyshells or Uganda.

Prof. T.R.M. Mahalingam (from KKS) Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:25 PM

How many people you have high-jacked and killed through White Van man, this is the punishment bear it.

R.M. Chandrasiri (attorney-at-law) - from Gampha Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:28 PM

You will vommit blood and die soon Sir. Before that say "Sorry" to all SriLankan Citizens.

Ram Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:29 PM

He is paying for his past sins committed when he was defence secretary

Manage Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:29 PM

All Rajapaksas family members are going to face the same fate because of the karma.Thouands of thousands of poor innocent peoples are killed by the Rajapaksa regimen.No one cannot change the God's decision.

Roisin Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:31 PM

He robbed enough money to arrange his personal protection until Namal will be elected as the president and he can return to Sri Lanka and meet again with his buddy in crime Shavendra. Look at the Philippines new president. People will never learn.

Snake Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:32 PM

If he left when asked to do so back im March, he would now be enjoying retirement in his private residence.

sam Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:33 PM

If innocent why worry about charges?

Buruwansa Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:44 PM

Don't ever come back to Sri Lanka. The traitor who destroyed Mother Lanka in two years.

Asrar Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:47 PM

now he can spend all the money on wo**men , invite his brothers and extended family as well

madhuka Wednesday, 10 August 2022 02:07 PM

Does he find his motherland so unsuitable to retire

What a pity Wednesday, 10 August 2022 02:12 PM

There is not a single incident that a person died of hunger in Sri Lanka. Such a generous nation even at its worst plight! When you look at Sri Lanka from a flight early dawn, it is sight to remember with green paddy fields, Coconut trees and flowing rivers. Yet, here is one person who is a refuge in the world, after a fall from the highest place in the hierarchy. How many Sri Lankans take this as a warning? I wonder!

Abey Wednesday, 10 August 2022 02:22 PM

Come back Sir Gota

Lumbini666 Wednesday, 10 August 2022 02:30 PM

Curse upon this land and the whole world since he was elected by the 6.9M fools, using Easter carnage for the Bud benefit. He undemocaratically closed the parliament early Dec19 to prevent debating CB scandal and save Ranil. Then came the pandemic which his govt. robed from vaccines and PCR equipments. Go to hell Gota.

Lumbini666 Wednesday, 10 August 2022 02:30 PM

Curse upon this land and the whole world since he was elected by the 6.9M fools, using Easter carnage for the Bud benefit. He undemocaratically closed the parliament early Dec19 to prevent debating CB scandal and save Ranil. Then came the pandemic which his govt. robed from vaccines and PCR equipments. Go to hell Gota.

Money speaks Wednesday, 10 August 2022 03:03 PM

He can live very safely in Thailand in the ship owned by Namal.

roobarbie Wednesday, 10 August 2022 03:51 PM

"If Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka, he might not be protected under law if any charges were filed against him, legal experts have said" This is not the ground reality, is it? Then why Ranil W has not been prosecuted for robbing the central bank: he was one of the key people that caused the current economic crisis in Sri lanka. And what about all the Ministers and MPs, as well as Rajapaksha extended family, all of whom are rogues that were stripping national assets and bankinbg them in their personal accounts abroad, why are they not being prosecuted. All this is because: law is one thing, but its implementation is another. The latter is being done by acolytes of the criminals mentioned above, all corrupt and rotten to the core. Despicable state of the law including the courts, where judges could be bought and bribed to do the demands of the corrupt politicians. Duh!

roobarbie Wednesday, 10 August 2022 03:56 PM

He has left but he left a beast in his chair. The worst ever individual politician, uncaring for people only interested in his glory and history book, but an executioner of young people that were brought to his Batalanda torture camps. Gota come back and get rid of this ogre, Mr Himmler of Gestapo, that you appointed. Another stupid and defenseless decision of yours worst than the Carbonic Fertiliser saga.

Punchi Wednesday, 10 August 2022 04:46 PM

If GR went to Burma he could make his skills acquired in Lanka available to the junta there in its wars against its own people and the many ethnic minorities. Also he will find the Buddhist monks there to his liking because the harbour anti Muslim sentiment similar to our monks who conferred and anointed him with elevated Buddhist titles

Mandayan Wednesday, 10 August 2022 04:50 PM

All those poor souls headed by Lasantha are chasing him around the globe.

vince Wednesday, 10 August 2022 05:06 PM

There are 180 countries on this planet. So if he seeks to visit each and every country in a month or two visit that will take him his lifetime to achieve. A good solution to this problem of fleeing from his motherland/fatherland. I heard Mahinda say he went to Singapore for a check-up. Must have been his brain that needed a good checkup. NO! What a comedy.

tilak Wednesday, 10 August 2022 05:13 PM

speak to KP he can make special arrangements for you in his former homeland

Nimal Wednesday, 10 August 2022 06:12 PM

How is it that he still has a diplomatic passport when he's just a civilian now? Only in this country that things like this are allowed to happen. Disgusting.

Tissa Fernando Wednesday, 10 August 2022 08:26 PM

After reading the comments, it is disgusting that Sri Lankans have forgotten ruthless LTTE terrorists finally defeated under Gota leadership . How many lives have been saved after that. Economic crisis is not his wrong doing. He came to power at the worst time and ruled during the worst pandemic without enough money. So guys be grateful at least you live because he stopped those terrorists. Now you get together with those terrorists sympathisers because you felt some money from them. Sick guys.

Jonathan Palabedda Thursday, 11 August 2022 07:56 AM

How do you spend 8-10 thousand dollars a day, no one thief? Stolen money from poor people of Sri Lanka!! Thopita Hena Hatha - Maha Thunder Balls one after the other will come soon!!!

Cherath Thursday, 11 August 2022 08:19 AM

Tissa Fernando - Yet another humongous crap from you. If you know anything about the huge organised torture and massacre at Matale, under the guidance of Gota in 88, 89, you wouldn't have a place to hide in shame for the filth you have uttered thus far. Some 700 youngsters were rounded up and stationed at Vijaya College, Matale on suspicion of involvement with JVP. Each nigh 10 to 20 were matched in chains to the torture chamber, the former Rest House. In the morning, soldiers washed the walks of blood and corpses taken away for unceremonious burial near the hospital. 700 odd perished thus by the terminator Gota. This is his comeuppance.

Jinathuga Abeypala Thursday, 11 August 2022 11:01 AM

Tissa Fernando is wearing a sataka Amudaya; but all can see of his Heluwa!! RW likes to see such things from male!! Well done - go to RW - get support!!

VJ Thursday, 11 August 2022 04:52 PM

Could you imagine, four or more houses in the US, a few in Sri Lanka, can’t live in any of those. What a dreadful live? You abandoned your post. You have not completed a singe term as the president, you are not entitled to any of the perks enjoyed by other former presidents. However you are able to afford the most luxurious apartments in Singapore. I pity you.

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Sri Lanka’s ousted president expected to go to Thailand - sources

Comments - 48

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