Colombo: Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is not in hiding and is likely to return home from Singapore. Cabinet spokesperson Bandula Gunawardene gave this information on Tuesday.
Rajapakse had fled Sri Lanka after the outbreak of mass protests on 9 July. For the first time since 1948, Sri Lanka is facing an unprecedented financial crisis. Citizens occupied the presidential residence after months of protests against Rajapakse’s failure to manage the economy. Then on July 13, Rajapakse went to Maldives and the next day he left for Singapore.
Speaking to the media after the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, when asked about Rajapakse by reporters, Cabinet Spokesperson and Transport, Highways and Public Relations Minister Gunawardene said the former president is not hiding in Singapore. They are likely to return from Singapore. From Gotabaya country
I do not believe that they have run away and are hiding. However, he did not reveal any other details about Rajapaksa’s possible comeback.
Singapore has granted Sri Lankan Gotabaya a 14-day short-term passenger pass to Singapore for a private visit on July 14. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singapore had previously said that Rajapakse had not sought or been granted asylum in Singapore.
Short term asylum in Singapore
Singapore’s ‘Immigration and Checkpost Authority’ (ICA) said that those coming to Singapore from Sri Lanka for social reasons are usually issued short-term passenger passes. It has a period of one month. Those who wish to extend their stay in Singapore must apply ‘online’ for the extension of this pass. Such applications are considered individually. Reacting to the request made to Singapore’s Attorney-General to detain Gotabaya, a Cabinet spokesperson said that under the circumstances, responsible authorities in the country will take necessary steps to ensure Gotabaya is not harmed.
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