Gotabaya Rajapaksa Return: Former President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa returned home from Thailand, returned via Singapore

Former President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa returned home from Thailand on Friday. Earlier there was news of him returning to Sri Lanka on Saturday morning. Rajapaksa, 73, fled the country on July 13 after protests against his government intensified nearly two months ago in a country going through the worst economic crisis. 

Return from singapore airlines

Official sources said on Friday that Gotabaya had returned to Sri Lanka on a Singapore Airlines flight. To return, he had first traveled from Thailand to Singapore, as there is no direct flight from Bangkok to Colombo. On July 9, protesters entered the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Colombo. Several other government buildings were also occupied by the protesters. After this, Gotabaya fled to Maldives by Sri Lanka Air Force plane and from there went to Singapore. From there he sent his resignation on 14 July, after which he went to Thailand where he took temporary asylum. 

Were expected to return

Before Gotabaya Rajapaksa's return to Sri Lanka, there were speculations that he might return on Friday or Saturday. Along with this, the news of his return was also confirmed by the media of Thailand. Gotabaya had left the country in July and first fled to Maldives, after which he went to Singapore. He had sent his resignation letter on 14 July from Singapore itself. He reached Bangkok from Singapore on 11 August. 

Ranil Wickremesinghe gave signs of coming back

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been barred from leaving the hotel in Bangkok for security reasons. For his protection, the Thai government had also deployed security personnel in plain clothes. A Sri Lankan official confirmed to AFP news agency that Gotabaya would return to Sri Lanka on Saturday. However, the Bangkok Post reported that Gotabaya is ready to return to the country on Friday. President Ranil Wickremesinghe had also indicated his return some time ago.