Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled the country on a military jet amid massive protests over his economic crisis.
The country’s air force confirmed that the 73-year-old had flown to the Maldives with his wife and two security officers. They arrived in the capital, Male, at approximately 03:00 local time (22:00 GMT).
The passing of Mr Rajapaksa ends a family dynasty that has ruled Sri Lanka for decades. He was in hiding after a mob stormed his residence on Saturday. The president had earlier promised to resign on Wednesday, July 13.
As the people of Sri Lanka woke up to the news of the President’s departure, thousands took to the streets of Colombo’s capital. Many gathered at Galle Face Green, the city’s leading protest site. Some people listened to scathing speeches on a makeshift platform for the general public to pick up the mic.
A protest movement rallies with slogans of “struggle victory” in Sinhalese, and speakers raise their voices against a government they feel has failed them.
Sri Lankans blame President Rajapaksa‘s administration for their worst economic crisis in decades. For months, they have been battling daily power cuts and a lack of basic things like fuel, food and medicines.
The leader, exempt from prosecution while he was president, is believed to have wanted to flee abroad before leaving office to avoid the possibility of arrest by the new administration.