Article Author:
Reuters
BANGKOK — Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in Thailand on Thursday, according to three witnesses to Reuters.
Rajapaksa arrived at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport on a charter flight from Singapore. did. He had left Singapore after the city's immigration department said in a statement on Thursday.
Rajapaksa plans to stay temporarily in Thailand after fleeing Sri Lanka to Singapore on 14 July. He resigned shortly thereafter following unprecedented furor over the government's response to the worst economic crisis in 70 years. protesters stormed the president's residence and offices.
Thai officials said the former military officer had resigned mid-term as Sri Lanka's first head of state, but he did not intend to seek political asylum, only staying temporarily. said.
"There is agreement that this is a humanitarian matter and a temporary stay," Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha told reporters on Wednesday. Rajapaksa said he could not participate in any political activities while in Thailand, his Prayuth said.
Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramdwinai said the Sri Lankan government supported Rajapaksa's trip to Thailand, adding that the former president's diplomatic passport would allow him to stay for his 90 days. rice field.
Rajapaksa has not made a public appearance or commented since leaving Sri Lanka. Reuters was unable to contact him immediately.
Sri Lanka's economic crisis has hit a tourism-dependent economy and slashed remittances from overseas workers his COVID-19, rising oil prices, populist tax cuts, 7 It is the result of several factors, including months of abstinence. Last year's import of chemical fertilizers that devastated agriculture. (Reporting by Panu Wongchaum and Juarawee Kittisilpa, Bangkok; Reporting by Chen Lin, Singapore; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Barthel, Mike Harrison)
