President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, his wife, and four people including a bodyguard have arrived at Malé Airport in the Maldives from Katunayake in the early morning of today (13) in an Air Force Antonov 32 aircraft.
Foreign media reports that the President, who did not appear before the people for four days after the seizure of the Presidential Palace by the protesters, has left the country.
Earlier, President Gotabhaya Rajapakse had assured the Prime Minister and the Speaker that he would resign from the office of President today. Nevertheless, the President has left the country with his wife in an environment without issuing any such official notification.
Before this, NewswaveLK reported that the president came to the Katunayake Air Force Base seeking protection when the protesters took over the Presidential Palace in Colombo on the 09th of July.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who arrived at the Male Airport was protected by that country’s security forces, and although the Sri Lankans living in the country arrived at the Male Airport, the protesters were unable to reach them.