MALE : Sri Lankan president who arrived in the Maldives amidst mass protests by Sri Lankan expatriate workers who urged the Male government not to play host to Rajapaksa on Wednesday, July 13.
The Sri Lankan Air Force.SLAF, ferried President Gotabya Rajapaksa,his wife Ioma and two body guards to the Maldives in the early hours of Wednesday morning on July 13.
In a press release, the media unit of the SLAF said : “ Pursuant to the powers vested in the Executive President in the Constitution of Sri Lanka and at the request of the present Government, a flight by the Air Force on 13th July 2022 was arranged for the President and his wife and two bodyguards to travel to the Maldives at Katunayake International Airport subject to all immigration, customs and other laws with the full approval of the Ministry of Defence.”
Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission categorically denied baseless and speculative media reports that India facilitated the recent reported travel out of Sri Lanka.” It is reiterated that India will continue to support the people of Sri Lanka as they seek to realize their aspirations for prosperity and progress through democratic means and values , established democratic institutions and constitutional framework.”, the Indian mission’s press release added.(Pic courtesy Maldivian Journal)
