Bankrupt Sri Lanka\u2019s deposed former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to end his self-imposed exile in Thailand and return home on Saturday, a top defence official told AFP.
\nThe 73-year-old fled the island under military guard in July after a huge crowd stormed his official residence, following months of angry public protests blaming him for the island nation\u2019s unprecedented economic crisis.
\nRead more: How Sri Lanka spiralled into crisis
\nHe issued his resignation from Singapore before flying onward to Bangkok, where he has been petitioning his successor to facilitate his return.
\n\u201cHe has been living in a Thai hotel as a virtual prisoner and was keen to return,\u201d the defence official, who asked not to be named, told AFP on Friday.
\n\u201cWe are told he will return very early on Saturday.
\n\u201cWe have just created a new security division to protect him after his return on Saturday. The unit comprises elements from the army and police commandos.\u201d
\nSri Lanka\u2019s constitution guarantees bodyguards, a vehicle and housing for former presidents.
\nRajapaksa travelled to Thailand after Singapore declined to extend his 28-day visa, but security authorities in Bangkok told him not to step out of his hotel for his own safety.
\nThe former president had a 90-day visa to remain in Thailand, but opted to return with his wife, a bodyguard and another aide, the official said.
\nRajapaksa\u2019s youngest brother, Basil, the former finance minister, met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe last month and requested protection to allow for the deposed leader\u2019s return.
\n\u201cBasil Rajapaksa requested the president to make arrangements for the former president to return home,\u201d their Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party said in a statement.
\nSri Lanka has endured months of acute food, fuel and medicine shortages, lengthy blackouts and runaway inflation after running out of foreign currency to finance essential imports.
\nThe coronavirus pandemic was a hammer blow to the island\u2019s tourism industry and dried up remittances from Sri Lankans working abroad \u2014 both key foreign exchange earners.
\nRajapaksa, who was elected in 2019 promising \u201cvistas of prosperity and splendour\u201d, saw his popularity nosedive as hardships multiplied for the country\u2019s 22 million people.
\nHis government was accused of introducing unsustainable tax cuts that drove up government debt and exacerbated the crisis.
\nRajapaksa\u2019s resignation ended his presidential immunity, which could see the revival of stalled corruption cases against the former leader.
\nWickremesinghe was elected by parliament to seek out the remainder of Rajapaksa\u2019s term. He has since cracked down on street protests and arrested leading activists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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