Gotabaya Rajapaksa to possibly return back to Sri Lanka next week
Former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, who is also related to Gotabaya, hinted that Rajapaksa will return to the country on Aug 24.
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Colombo, Aug 18: Sri Lanka's former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is all set to return next week to the island nation that he was forced to flee in July after massive protests against him. Former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, who is also related to Gotabaya, hinted that Rajapaksa will return to the country on Aug 24.
According to the reports of Sri Lanka local media, Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga said, "The date could change. I am saying it with responsibility today. I can't help if he changes the date later." Weeratunga was arrested in Feb thisyear and released on bail several months later, after giving a statement to the Criminal Investigation Department with regard to nab millions of US dollars in a deal connected to procurement of MiG-27 fighter jets to Sri Lanka from Ukraine in 2006, when Rajapaksa served as the Secretary to the Defence Ministry.
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When asked whether Gotabaya Rajapaksa would engage in politics again, Weeratunga said he was not a clever politician but a clever officer. Sri Lankan media quotes Weeratunga saying, "I don't think our people should be foolish again. He is not a clever person as a politician. He is a clever military officer. He does not have any qualities that Mahinda Rajapaksa has. That is why he got all wrong." Weeratunga said the former President Rajapaksha would render service to the country.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in Thailand last week following his departure from Singapore. He was granted entry into Thailand following a request from the Sri Lankan govt, according to media reports. He left Singapore last Thursday (Aug 11) after nearly a month's stay in Singapore. The former president was issued a 14-day visit pass when he arrived at the Changi Airport in Singapore from the Maldives last month and he was allowed to stay there for two weeks. The Thailand Foreign Ministry said it received a request from Rajapaksa to visit the country with no intention of seeking political asylum.