Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled his country earlier this week amid widespread protests over economic mismanagement. News reports and photos of his presidential palace and offices being stormed by protesters have abounded.
He flew into the Maldives on Wednesday (July 13). On July 14, he landed in Singapore. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “In response to media queries, it is confirmed that Mr Rajapaksa has been allowed entry into Singapore on a private visit.
He has not asked for asylum, and neither has he been granted any asylum. Singapore generally does not grant requests for asylum,” reported Yahoo News Singapore on Thursday afternoon.
Shortly after arriving in Singapore, he tendered his resignation via email, the Sri Lankan parliamentary speaker’s office told AFP.
Indunil Yapa, a spokesperson for the speaker, said “The authenticity and the legality of the e-mail will have to be checked out.”
The resignation letter has since been accepted and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who has been sworn in as acting president.
In response to the MFA’s statement, many say they are not too happy with the news that the former Sri Lankan leader has been allowed into the country.
Some asked why he had been allowed into Singapore at all.
“Why harbour a criminal?” one asked.
Another called it “disgraceful.”
A commenter called it “a tough pill to swallow.”
/TISG
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