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| President Raja Paksha announced his resignation on July 13. Photo: AFP |
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Raja Paksha has been airlifted to an air force base near the international airport, sparking speculation about his deportation, according to AFP.
The defense official said the 73-year-old president was being held in a safe place under the Sri Lankan navy after protesters stormed the presidential palace last week.
President Raja Paksha will resign on July 13 to form an all-party interim government. According to a senior government official, President Raja Paksha and his staff were airlifted to Catania Air Base, some distance from the capital Colombo, on Monday, from where they were flown back to the capital Colombo by two helicopters.
No statement has been made so far, but there is speculation in the local media that he may be deported to Dubai.
According to airport staff, four flights have recently departed for the Middle East, but none of them. Neither President Raja Paksha nor his crew was present.
According to a military official, President Raja Paksha, as Commander-in-Chief, also has the authority to travel in an Air Force aircraft.
President Raja Paksha has not been seen in public since Friday and has not made any direct statement on his resignation. I don't know yet.
After Raja Paksha's resignation, the country's prime minister will be acting president until parliament elects a member of parliament.
The ongoing political crisis in Sri Lanka could make it more difficult for the country to emerge from its worst economic crisis.
Foreign currency shortages have halted imports of oil, food and medicine. On Sunday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it was closely monitoring the situation.
It is believed that Sri Lanka's 3 billion bailout package from the IM was also being won. In a statement, the IMF said, "We look forward to a solution to the current situation that will allow us to resume our discussions on the IMF support program." Responsible President Gotabaya Raja Paksha.
Protesters, who have been protesting peacefully since March, have been demanding his resignation.
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