New Delhi: Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was on his way to Singapore on Thursday and was expected to stay there for the time being, a Sri Lankan government source told Reuters, after the president fled to the Maldives from his home country.
Rajapaksa had repeatedly assured the speaker of parliament that he would step down on Wednesday, but his resignation letter had not arrived as of Thursday.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's anti-government demonstrators said Thursday they were ending their occupation of official buildings, as they vowed to press on with their bid to bring down the president and prime minister in the face of a dire economic crisis.
The United Kingdom, Singapore and Bahrain have asked its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Sri Lanka as an economic collapse in the country have led to massive protests. The island nation is experiencing a severe economic crisis which has led to shortages of basic necessities including medicines, cooking gas, fuel and food.
Here are the Live updates on Sri Lanka Crisis:
Jul 14, 2022 13:13 (IST)
Lankan President Rajapaksa Flies To Singapore From Maldives: Report
The Sri Lanka President was expected to stay in Singapore for the time being, a Lankan government source told Reuters.
Jul 14, 2022 12:48 (IST)
Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was yet to send his resignation letter on Thursday even as the protesters agreed to vacate key buildings overrun by them. Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives on Wednesday and was expected to head to Singapore.
Jul 14, 2022 12:04 (IST)
Sri Lanka protesters say will leave official buildings
Sri Lanka's anti-government protesters, who forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from his official residence at the weekend, announced Thursday that they will vacate key buildings they have overrun.
"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," a spokeswoman said.
Jul 14, 2022 09:15 (IST)
Sri Lanka awaits president's resignation after flight
Sri Lankans waited for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today, a day after he fled to the Maldives to escape a popular uprising against an economic crisis blamed on his government's mismanagement.
Rajapaksa was expected to next head to Singapore though his final destination was not clear. His decision on Wednesday to make his ally Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe the acting president triggered more protests, with demonstrators storming the premier's office demanding that he quit too.
Jul 14, 2022 08:22 (IST)
UK, Singapore ask citizens to avoid travel to Sri Lanka
The United Kingdom, Singapore and Bahrain have advised their citizens to avoid travel to Sri Lanka, which is reeling under the impact of an economic crisis.