Colombo International Airport administrators foiled Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s attempt to leave the country on Tuesday, with sources talking about his attempt to flee by sea, amid escalating anger as protesters take over the presidential palace and many government buildings.
Immigration officials at the airport prevented Rajapaksa from leaving after a “humiliating confrontation”, AFP said, citing official sources.
Rajapaksa’s advisers are studying the possibility of the president and his entourage fleeing in a patrol boat, according to a senior defense source.
The president’s office did not report on the president, but Rajapaksa, who remains commander-in-chief of the armed forces, could use military means.
“The best option now is to leave by sea,” the defense official said, adding, “He could go to the Maldives or India and fly to Dubai from there.”
Another option, he noted, is boarding from Matala International Airport.
escape from the presidential palace
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the presidential palace in Colombo on Saturday with a navy escort, shortly before thousands of protesters stormed the palace.
A senior defense official told AFP that the 73-year-old had taken refuge in a naval facility before being transferred to the Katunayake base, which shares a fence with Bendnaik International Airport.
Earlier, President Rajapaksa said he would announce his resignation on Wednesday. The prime minister also said he was ready to resign, but did not specify a date.
Immigration officials in Sri Lanka said on Tuesday they had blocked the president’s brother, former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa, from traveling abroad as anger against the powerful family escalated over a deep economic crisis.
Basil Rajapaksa, who holds U.S. citizenship, is unclear where he plans to travel following his resignation as finance minister in early April and his subsequent resignation from parliament.
public anger
Meanwhile, protesters continued to occupy the presidential palace and some government offices. The Prime Minister’s residence was set on fire.
Protesters demanded the immediate resignation of President and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Demonstrators threatened a general strike if the president and prime minister did not resign by Thursday.
The country’s unprecedented economic crisis has led to shortages of fuel, medicine and food, and Sri Lanka has seen protests against the president and his government for three consecutive months.
Sri Lankan parliament speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said in a statement that the parliament will reconvene on July 15 and elect a new president on July 20.