Sri Lanka Former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa attempts to flee; immigration officials refuse

Colombo, Jul 12: Sri Lanka's Former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, who is the youngest brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was stopped from boarding a flight to Dubai on Monday (Jul 11) evening. Basil reportedly attempted to leave Sri Lanka amid the ongoing economic crisis in the country but airport immigration officials refused to let him leave the country following the protests by passengers.

 

 

 

 

Upon immigration officials' refusal, Basil had to return without being able to proceed. The development comes a day after Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena clarified that Gotabaya Rajapaksa is still in the country, soon after reports emerged that the President has left the island nation. Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa, who announced his resignation on Jul 9, was earlier said to have fled and was in a third country.

 

 

 

 

 

According to ANI, Speaker Abeywardena said "President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa is still in the country, I made a mistake in the (BBC) interview." When asked further about the whereabouts of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Sri Lankan President, the speaker said that both of them are still in the country. The development comes after thousands of people stormed into the President's House in Fort on Jul 9.

 

The dramatic visuals came from PM's official residence where they were seen playing carrom board, sleeping on the sofa, enjoying in park premises and preparing food for dinner. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also announced to step down from his posts amid the ongoing protests. However, the protesters who have occupied the residences of the President and Prime Minister have cleared that they will continue to occupy their houses until they resign from their posts.