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Sri Lanka: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees the country on military jet

JULY 13: The country's air force confirmed the 73-year-old flew to the Maldives with his wife and two security officials. They arrived in the capital, Male, at around 03:00 local time (22:00 GMT), BBC Sinhala understands. Mr Rajapaksa's departure ends a family dynasty that has ruled Sri Lanka for decades. He had been in hiding after crowds stormed his residence on Saturday. The president had earlier pledged to resign on Wednesday 13 July. On Wednesday morning officials told Reuters news agency that he had yet to submit his letter of resignation to the parliamentary speaker. His brother, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, has also left the country, sources have told the BBC. He is said to be heading to the US. As Sri Lankans awoke to news of the president's departure, thousands of people took to the streets of the capital, Colombo. Many gathered at Galle Face Green, the city's main protest site. Some listened to fiery speeches at a makeshift stage set up for ordinary people to take the mic. Punctuated by cries of "Victory to the struggle" in Sinhalese, the rallying cry of the protest movement, speakers railed against a government and the leaders they feel have failed them. Sri Lankans blame President Rajapaksa's administration for their worst economic crisis in decades. For months they have been struggling with daily power cuts and shortages of basics like fuel, food and medicines. The leader, who enjoys immunity from prosecution while he is president, is believed to have wanted to flee abroad before stepping down to avoid the possibility of arrest by the new administration.

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Sri Lanka: Gotabaya Rajapaksa expected to return to country, official says

JULY 27: Cabinet spokesperson Bandula Gunawardena told reporters on Tuesday that Mr Rajapaksa was not in hiding but the date of his return was not known. The former leader fled Sri Lanka after mass unrest over an economic crisis. Many protesters say he mishandled the nation's finances, leading to soaring prices of essential goods. Mr Rajapaksa left Sri Lanka on 13 July for the Maldives, before making his way to Singapore on 14 July. He submitted his resignation shortly after his arrival, which was formally accepted by the Sri Lankan cabinet on 15 July. The former president travelled with his wife and two bodyguards. He no longer has legal immunity as a head of state. Singapore says the ousted president did not ask for political asylum when he arrived. Mr Rajapaksa had been initially granted a 14-day visa for his stay in Singapore. But that has now been extended another 14 days, Singapore local media reported on Wednesday. Speculation has since swirled about his possible plans, with some suggesting he might move to the United Arab Emirates. However Bloomberg quoted an unnamed Sri Lankan official as saying Mr Rajapaksa was keen to return to Colombo. "To my knowledge he is expected to come back," Mr Gunawardena told reporters on Tuesday. Sri Lankans blame Mr Rajapaksa's administration for their worst economic crisis in decades. They have been struggling with months of daily power cuts and shortages of basics like fuel, food and medicines. Mr Rajapaksa has been replaced as president by his close ally Ranil Wickremesinghe - he was voted in by lawmakers last week but is deeply unpopular among Sri Lankans.

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Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after fleeing Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned as president of Sri Lanka after fleeing to Singapore in the face of mass protests at home over his rule, BBC reported. He is believed to have wanted to leave Sri Lanka before stepping down in order to avoid the possibility of arrest under a new administration. The cost of […]

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Sri Lanka: Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns after fleeing Sri Lanka

JULY 15: He is believed to have wanted to leave Sri Lanka before stepping down in order to avoid the possibility of arrest under a new administration. The cost of food, fuel and other basic supplies has soared for Sri Lankans. In the capital Colombo, delighted demonstrators greeted news of the president's departure with dancing. "We are beyond happy but also beyond relieved so we can take a break and go back to our lives," Viraga Perera told the BBC. "At this stage we are so exhausted because of all the flip-flopping, that we consider this moment substantial enough as a victory." Mr Rajapaksa arrived in Singapore earlier on Thursday after first flying to the Maldives on Tuesday night. Reports say he is accompanied by his wife and two bodyguards. Singapore's foreign ministry said Mr Rajapaksa had not asked for asylum or been granted asylum. "Singapore generally does not grant requests for asylum," it added. The acting president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, does not formally become interim president until he is sworn in. After that, Mr Wickremesinghe - who was appointed acting president by President Rajapaksa after the latter fled - has 30 days for parliament to endorse him. If they do not, MPs need to hold a vote for a new president. The resignation letter was sent by email to the speaker of parliament, who said he would complete legal processes and announce it officially on Friday. It has left some confused as to where they stand. "Earlier they fooled us [in saying] that he would go. It's the same thing happening now, they have received the resignation letter but the speaker says they have to legalise it. I don't know what there is to legalise. So it's really crazy," said Suzette Fernando, who was among the crowds celebrating. However, the crowds appeared smaller than before: Mr Wickremesinghe on Thursday imposed a curfew for a second day to quell protests. The streets of Colombo were calmer as anti-government demonstrators began leaving some of the official buildings they had occupied. "We are peacefully withdrawing from the presidential palace, the presidential secretariat and the prime minister's office with immediate effect, but will continue our struggle," said a spokeswoman for the protesters. One person died and 84 others were injured during Wednesday's protests, which took place at key landmarks around the capital, Colombo, including the prime minister's office.

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Sri Lanka protests: One dead and 84 injured, say hospital officials

JULY 14: The 26-year-old man died from breathing difficulties after police forces lobbied tear gas at protesters. Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed acting president after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country. But the decision triggered further protests demanding that he also resign. Hospital officials at the Colombo National Hospital said the injuries came from protesters who were outside the prime minister's office as well as those who were outside parliament later in the evening. Police had fired tear gas at protesters who attempted to break down the gates of the prime minister's office in Colombo, before finally making their way in. They later made their way towards parliament. A military spokesperson told the BBC said that a soldier and police officer were amongst the injured, and alleged that an assault rifle with ammunition had been stolen by a protester and had not yet been recovered. Early on Thursday, Sri Lanka imposed a new curfew, which would be in place from 12:00 on Thursday till 05:00 on Friday, said the government in a statement. The protests come as Sri Lanka has been suffering from its worst economic crisis in decades. Many blame the Rajapaksa administration for the crisis and see Mr Wickremesinghe, who became prime minister in May, as part of the problem. In a television address late on Wednesday, Mr Wickremesinghe had called on protesters to leave his occupied office and other state buildings and co-operate with authorities. He also told the military to do "whatever is necessary" to restore order. His statement came hours after Mr Rajapaksa had fled to the Maldives - days after his official residence was stormed. Mr Rajapaksa had pledged to resign by Wednesday, but is still yet to submit a formal letter of resignation. The leader, who has enjoyed immunity from prosecution as president, is believed to have wanted to flee abroad before stepping down to avoid the possibility of arrest by the new administration. The president's departure threatens a potential power vacuum in Sri Lanka, which needs a functioning government to help dig it out of financial ruin. Politicians from other parties have been talking about forming a new unity government but there is no sign they are near agreement yet. It's also not clear if the public will accept what they come up with. In a press statement on Wednesday, Mr Wickremesinghe's team said he had asked the speaker of parliament to nominate a new prime minister "who is acceptable to both the government and opposition". Earlier on Monday, the main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa told the BBC he would be tilting for the presidency. But he - like Mr Wickremesinghe - lacks public support. There is also deep public suspicion of politicians in general. The protest movement which has brought Sri Lanka to the brink of change also does not have an obvious contender for the country's leadership.

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State of emergency in Sri Lanka as protesters tear-gassed

JULY 13: Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has declared a state of emergency in the country. He has been appointed acting president, according to the parliament's speaker, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country. Police have fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse protesters outside the prime minister's office. A curfew has been imposed in Western Province, which includes the capital Colombo. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left the country on a military jet - reportedly accompanied by his wife - days after demonstrators overran his residence. He had pledged to stand down on Wednesday amid mass protests over the island's worst economic crisis in decades. For months people have been struggling with daily power cuts and shortages of basics like fuel, food and medicines. Thousands have taken to the streets in anger in recent weeks, with many blaming the Rajapaksa family and their government for the situation.

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Gotabaya Rajapaksa still in Sri Lanka: Parliament Speaker clarifies

Speaker of Sri Lanka's Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Monday clarified that Gotabaya Rajapaksa is still in the country

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Gotabaya Rajapaksa still in Sri Lanka: Parliament Speaker clarifies

Speaker of Sri Lanka's Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Monday clarified that Gotabaya Rajapaksa is still in the country

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Sri Lankan President seeks international assistance to address economic crisis

As Sri Lanka is suffering from a severe economic crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa called upon the international community to help Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka crisis: Gotabaya Rajapaksa appoints veteran politician as PM

MAY 13: Senior opposition MP Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in to lead a proposed cross-party government. The move came after the president ignored calls to resign, and vowed to restore order in a national address. Nine people have been killed and 200 injured in unrest since his brother resigned as prime minister on Monday. During his nationwide address, Mr Rajapaksa said he would appoint a new prime minister who commanded the majority of support in parliament, as well as a new cabinet. Mr Wickremesinghe has been on Sri Lanka's political scene for decades - this will be his sixth stint as prime minister, although he's never seen out a full term. He is seen as being close to the Rajapaksas, and experts believe he has been chosen because he would be likely to guarantee their security and any safe passage they might request. But he does not currently command much support within the opposition or among the public. Sri Lanka's economy is in freefall and people are desperate as basic items like food and fuel run out or become unaffordable. How is the appointment being viewed? News that Ranil Wickremesinghe is the new prime minister has been largely met with dismay and disbelief in Sri Lanka. Mr Wickremesinghe, once a skilled tactician, has seen his public appeal steadily plummet over the years. In the last election, his once ruling United National Party managed to scrape together just one parliamentary seat, leaving him its sole representative in parliament. One major reason for that has been his perceived closeness to the Rajapaksa family despite being in the opposition. Many people believe he helped shield them when they lost power in 2015 - his appointment now is seen as a way for the president to defy protesters' demands that he quit. It is being seen as yet another arrogant response to weeks of protests. With inputs from BBC  In a speech on Wednesday, President Rajapaksa offered to cede some of the presidency's power to parliament, but set no timetable. Those calling for him to resign were unimpressed and many said the speech failed to address the real issues. "Where were you for the last 30 days? People don't have medicine, people don't have food, the entire country's at a standstill," Kavindya Thennakoon, a protester in Colombo, told the BBC. "The reforms he's suggesting are not what we need. What we need right now is for [the president] to resign from office... It baffles my mind that Gotabaya Rajapaksa doesn't understand that." Shoot on sight orders Peaceful protests against the government turned violent on Monday, after supporters of Mahinda Rajapaksa attacked anti-government demonstrators and destroyed two protest sites where thousands had gathered. Though the older Rajapaksa brother quit as PM shortly after, angry mobs have since been targeting property belonging to the family and other politicians supporting them. Violence was reported on both Monday and Tuesday nights. Shops near Colombo were torched, as well as a resort owned by one of Mahinda Rajapaksa's sons. The former PM, who twice served as president, remains holed up in a naval base in the north-east of the country for his own safety, the military has confirmed. A court has banned him, his son, and 15 of his allies from leaving the country. Security forces have been deployed across Sri Lanka with orders to shoot looters on sight. People have also been subject to daily curfews. Why are people angry? The country's dire financial situation has caused the Sri Lankan rupee to plunge, provoking severe shortages of basic items such as food, fuel and medical supplies. The government blames the Covid pandemic, which all but killed off Sri Lanka's tourist trade - one of its biggest foreign currency earners. However, many experts say economic mismanagement is to blame. While the pandemic hit the vital tourism sector and shrank Sri Lanka's earnings and foreign exchange reserves, there were populist tax cuts in 2019 and a disastrous ban on chemical fertilisers in 2021 that devastated crop yields. There is a great deal of anger against the Rajapaksa family. Many people believe Mahinda Rajapaksa paved the way for his relatives to plunder the country's wealth for their own financial gain. Gotabaya Rajapaksa had earlier said he was holding talks with other political parties in an attempt to forming a unity government. But the main opposition said it would not be part of the interim administration unless the president stands down. Sri Lanka needs to iron out a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the island's $81bn economy is near bankruptcy. It has suspended its foreign debt payments, largely because it cannot service loans from China that paid for massive infrastructure projects.

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Sri Lanka to hold 5th BIMSTEC summit

COLOMBO, March 27: Sri Lanka will host the fifth Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit from Monday to Wednesday. The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that the event will be held in hybrid mode and foreign ministers and senior officials of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Thailand will arrive in Sri Lanka on Sunday. The foreign minister of Myanmar will participate virtually, the foreign ministry said. On March 30, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will chair the BIMSTEC Summit with leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Thailand participating virtually, according to the foreign ministry. The ministry said the leaders and senior officials will discuss the progress and the future of BIMSTEC, and a BIMSTEC charter is expected to be adopted during the summit. BIMSTEC groups seven nations of South Asia and Southeast Asia including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

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