Problems are mounting for the ruling family of Sri Lanka. The attempt to leave the country by the still president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whom the population points to as the main culprit of the financial crisis they are going through, ended in a humiliating defeat when he ran into the opposition of the airport staff, who stood in his way. and forced him to turn around.
Immigration officials at the airport in the capital, Colombo, reportedly denied the controversial head of state access to the VIP lounge to stamp his passport when he tried to avoid the terminal open to the public for fear of public backlash.
As a result, he and his wife missed four flights to the United Arab Emirates and had to return to a nearby military base. The couple would be considering using a navy patrol boat to flee the island to India or the Maldives, according to sources from the AFP agency.
Rajapaksa fled his official residence over the weekend shortly before a group of protesters stormed the presidential compound in protest at his economic mismanagement, which has bankrupted the country and triggered shortages of food, fuel and other essential goods. need. Colombo defaulted on its $51 billion foreign debt in April and is in talks with the IMF over a possible bailout.
Yesterday, Rajapaksa promised that he would leave office on Wednesday to ensure a "peaceful transition of power." He is believed to be trying to seek refuge abroad before his resignation deprives him of immunity from office and risks arrest.
The president was not the only member of the extended family that has dominated Sri Lankan politics in recent times to try unsuccessfully to leave. His younger brother and former finance minister, Basil Rajapaksa, who is also accused of corruption, was also unable to set sail for the United States via Dubai on Tuesday due to opposition from airport authorities.
Basil, who is also a dual US citizen, attempted to use a paid concierge service for business travelers, but airport and immigration staff announced the removal of the expedited service effective immediately. "Some passengers protested against Basil boarding his flight," an airport official told AFP. "It was a tense situation, so he left the airport in a hurry," he added.
Following the official resignation of the president on Wednesday and the consequent resignation of his cabinet, an interim government of national unity made up of all parties is expected to take power. The new president will be elected on July 20 by the legislature, and the leader of the largest opposition party, Sajith Premadasa, has already advanced his intention to run for office. That caretaker government is expected to function for six to eight months until the country can hold parliamentary elections.
