The President of Sri Lanka leaves the country on a military plane and arrives in the Maldives after mass protests

the president Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksaleft the country early Wednesday on a military plane and arrived in the Maldives, likely ahead of his resignation after months of mass protests over the worst economic crisis in national history.

After thousands of protesters stormed his official residence on Saturday, Rajapaksa promised he would step down from his post on Wednesday, paving the way for a “peaceful transfer” of power.

Rajapaksa he enjoys presidential immunity and can use it to seek asylum abroad and not be detained in his own country.

According to immigration officials, the 73-year-old president left with his wife and a bodyguard aboard an Antonov An-32 aircraft that took off from the main international airport.

“Their passports were stamped and they boarded a special Air Force flight,” a spokesman told AFP.

Sri Lanka: President flees in the face of crisis

Fountain at the airport Male confirmed to AFP the arrival of the president, who was transferred to an undisclosed location after landing in Maldivesa group of islands located southeast of Sri Lankain the Indian Ocean.

The plane stayed on the runway for more than an hour, unable to take off due to a mix-up with a landing permit in the Maldives, airport officials said.

Hours earlier, Rajapaksa was considering leaving the country on a navy patrol boat after he was unable to board a plane to Dubai the day before due to a conflict with immigration at the airport, according to official sources.

Over the weekend, the president left his residence under pressure from thousands of protesters who finally entered the presidential complex.

VIP number

The President and his wife spent the night before the trip he planned to make with the destination Dubai at a military base, according to official sources.

But at the airport, immigration officials denied him access to the VIP lounge to stamp his passport. Rajapaksa wanted to avoid the public terminal for fear of people’s backlash.

His brother Vasily, who retired in April from the post of minister finances, was also unable to board a plane to Dubai.

“Some passengers protested Vasiliy boarding their flight,” an airport spokesman told AFP.

“The situation was tense, so he decided to leave the airport in a hurry,” he added.

Cash

Basilwho also holds US citizenship, had to get a new passport after leaving his at the presidential mansion when the family was forced to flee in front of a crowd that threatened to enter, a diplomatic source said.

Official sources indicated that they found a briefcase containing documents and Rs 1,785 million (€49,000) at the scene, which are now in the custody of the authorities.

Da Rajapaksa resignation as promised, prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe He will replace him until parliament elects an interim president for the remainder of his term, which ends in November 2024.

But Wickremesinghe Nor does it have legitimacy in the face of the protesters, who have been camping in front of the presidential secretariat for more than three months now, demanding the president’s resignation.

The Prime Minister announced his readiness to resign if there is a consensus on the formation of a government of national unity.

Sri Lanka: the situation after the protests

Rajapaksa accused of mismanagement leading the country into chaos and a deep crisis due to a lack of foreign exchange, making it impossible to finance imports of essential goods for the population 22 million inhabitants.

Sri Lanka announced a $51 billion debt moratorium in April and is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan.

In addition, the country has nearly run out of fuel and the government has ordered the closure of non-essential administrative offices and schools to reduce population displacement.

(According to AFP)