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Aides for Rajapaksa arrived on the airport in Colombo on Monday with 15 passports belonging to the president and members of his household — together with First Woman Ioma Rajapaksa — who had booked seats on a Sri Lankan Airways flight leaving for Dubai at 6:25 p.m. native time, in response to the navy supply.
Immigration officers declined to course of the passports given to them by presidential aides, as Rajapaksa and his household weren’t bodily current for cross checks and, finally, the flight departed with out the president and his household on board, the supply added.
One other try was made to get the household on an Etihad flight scheduled to go away Colombo for Abu Dhabi at 9:20 p.m. native, in response to the supply, nonetheless the identical drawback occurred, because the Rajapaksas refused to queue for the flight and present up in particular person at immigration for passport checks.
In each situations, the Rajapaksa household was in a close-by airport lounge, ready for affirmation they may board with out queuing amongst members of the general public, the supply stated.
Rajapaksa is because of formally depart workplace on Wednesday, after being pressured to resign within the wake of months-long protests over the nation’s crippling financial disaster.
Hanging photos shared on social media confirmed demonstrators singing protest songs and chanting slogans calling for Rajapaksa to resign. Different photographs confirmed teams of demonstrators organising barbecue pits to grill and cook dinner meals.
Rajapaksa’s present whereabouts inside Sri Lanka are unknown. On Tuesday, the Sri Lanka Air Drive (SLAF) denied that he’s at present staying in a personal residence belonging to Air Drive Chief Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, in response to a SLAF assertion.
The SLAF issued the denial after a video launched by a former police officer claimed that the President was staying in a personal home belonging to the Air Drive Commander. The SLAF stated that there isn’t any fact behind the report and described it as propaganda meant to tarnish the picture of the SLAF and its chief.
The drastic escalation of unrest may spell the tip of the Rajapaksa household’s political dynasty, which has dominated Sri Lanka for many of the previous 20 years.
His incapability to go away Sri Lanka has solid doubts over the timeline for him leaving workplace although, as his deliberate resignation would go away Rajapaksa with out presidential immunity — probably exposing him to a raft of authorized fees and lowered safety.
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