Sri Lankan President Gotabia Rajapaksa has fled the country on a military plane, prompting a state of emergency.
The Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s House confirmed the president’s escape from the country, saying the prime minister had declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew in the western province.
According to officials, the 73-year-old president left the country for the Maldives with his wife and two security personnel.
According to media reports, the president had announced his resignation after intense public protests in the country, but he had moved to an unknown location after announcing his resignation.
According to media reports, the Sri Lankan president will not stay in the Maldives and will leave for another country.
The Sri Lankan president’s brother and former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa has also fled the country and is likely to go to the United States. The former finance minister also has US citizenship.
On the other hand, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka has denied reports that the Sri Lankan president helped him flee the country.
A statement issued by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said that reports of Indian facilitation in the President’s escape from the country were baseless.
The High Commission says India will continue to work with the people of Sri Lanka.
According to media reports, the resignation of the Sri Lankan President is likely to be received by the Speaker of Parliament on Wednesday.
