Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa To Flee Singapore: Maldives Govt. Source

PM Wickremesinghe in charge as acting President led to protests

Ahead of flying to the Maldives on Wednesday, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to fly to Singapore today amid a worsening crisis back home. His decision to leave PM Ranil Wickremesinghe in charge as acting President led to more protests.

According to a Govt. source in the Maldives, while fearing backlash from civilians, President Rajapaksa has requested the Maldives government to arrange a private jet to fly him to Singapore.

President Rajapaksa had telephoned the speaker of parliament saying that he would step down on Wednesday, but his resignation letter had not arrived as of early Thursday.

Ahead of the escape plan, Yesterday, the Lankan political leaders held an all-party meeting, where it was decided to let the parliament Speaker take over as the acting President. The office of Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been asked to step down, said the ruling party and the opposition must form an all-party government.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has also informed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to nominate a Prime Minister who is acceptable to both the government and the Opposition.

Tear gas shells were fired as thousands of people mobbed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office, took over his residence and pushed against the gates of the Lankan parliament, says the visuals.

Taking notes from the official statement by the Prime Minister, the protesters had no reason to storm his office. "They want to stop the parliamentary process. But we must respect the Constitution," he said.

Sri Lanka's state-run TV network, Rupavahini Corporation, briefly suspended its telecast after protesters entered the TV station. The channel resumed the broadcast later.

A curfew, imposed by Ranil Wickremesinghe over intensifying protests against the government in the state, has been lifted.

The United Kingdom, Singapore and Bahrain have asked their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the island nation.