COLOMBO: Ousted Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to return home more than seven weeks after he fled country amid mass protests that demanded his resignation, holding him and his family responsible for country’s economic crisis. Rajapaksa currently does not face any current arrest warrants.

A corruption case against him in his former role as secretary to Defense Ministry was withdrawn when he was elected president in 2019 because of constitutional immunity. Some other investigations were also suspended. Officials familiar with arrangements for his arrival said Rajapaksa was expected to return from Thailand later Friday, while local media reported it would be Saturday. It was not possible to independently verify timing. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of sensitivity of matter.

Rajapaksa fled from president’s official residence on July 9 when tens of thousands of people stormed building and occupied it, along with several other key state buildings. On July 13, he fled to Maldives on a military jet and a day later flew to Singapore, from where he announced his resignation. Two weeks later he arrived in Thailand on a diplomatic visa following a Sri Lankan government request. Months of street protest have dismantled one-powerful Rajapaksa political family. Before Rajapaksa resigned, his older brother stepped down as prime minister and three more close family members quit their Cabinet positions. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who succeeded Rajapaksa has cracked down on protests, helping Rajapaksa family and its supporters who were in hiding to return to public politics. Sri Lanka has suspended repayment of its foreign debts, which total more than $ 51 billion of which $ 28 billion must be repaid by 2027. International Monetary Fund announced a preliminary agreement to extend $ 2.9 billion to Sri Lanka over four years, provided there are assurances from country’s creditors on loan restructuring.–Agencies

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 03 2022

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