Sources have reported to TMJ that Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is to leave the Maldives before noon on Thursday. He is to leave around 1130hrs local time from Velana International Airport.

The source also confirmed that a private jet had been provided to the President as requested. However, another source had reported that he is to leave Male; via a Saudi Airlines carrier.

The latter source also reported that he had seen the ticket that was purchased by Gotabaya Rajapaksa. However, it is unclear what option Gotabaya had chosen.

Reports have suggested that Singapore is the next destination for the President. International media have reported that Gotabaya has been assured that Singapore would provide safety.

Trusted sources have also reported that Gotabaya had met with Parliament Speaker former President Mohamed Nasheed, sometime on Thursday morning.

Gotabaya arrived in the Maldives in the early hours of Wednesday via a Sri Lanka air force craft. He was welcomed to the country by Nasheed.

Gotabaya had pledged to resign the post of Presidency on Wednesday. He is yet to tender his resignation.

The Government of Maldives’ decision to award him sanctuary was extremely unpopular. Sri Lankans living in the Maldives had staged a protest on Wednesday evening – only for Maldives Police Service (MPS) to violently crack down on the protest.

Both locals and Sri Lankans took to social media to express their anger over the Government’s decision, with many Sri Lankans stating that they would not forget what the Maldivian authorities had done.

Source: The Maldives Journal

NOTE: No part of the story was edited for the headline.