President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka in Colombo in February. Credit … Dinuka Liyanawatte / Reuters
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country on Wednesday after months of protests demanding he leave the post that culminated in protesters storming his official residence.
Rajapaksa took off on an Air Force plane to the Maldives around 2am local time, said Colonel Nalin Herath, a spokesman for Sri Lanka’s defense ministry. Three immigration officials, who declined to be named given the political situation, also confirmed their departure.
The island nation is experiencing the worst economic crisis in its history, exacerbated by mismanagement and government mistakes. Protests over severe food, medicine and fuel shortages have lasted for months.
Mr. Rajapaksa went into hiding after protesters took over his office and residence. He had told the Allies he would resign on Wednesday.
The country’s prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, had suggested on Saturday that he would also resign, but it looked like he would stay. Protesters had also demanded his resignation.
When the departure of Mr. Rajapaksa of the country, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the speaker of parliament, said in a telephone interview that he had not yet received the resignation letter from the president, which would make official the end of his presidency.
Mr. Rajapaksa, 73, a career military officer, would be the last member of his family’s dynasty to leave government. In May, Mahinda Rajapaksa, the prime minister and older brother of the president, was forced to step down for protests. Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, another brother and several other family members were also removed from office.
Fuel shortages have changed daily life in Sri Lanka for months, with the country essentially bankrupt and with no foreign exchange reserves for essential imports. Food and medicine prices have skyrocketed, power cuts have become the norm, and public transportation is often suspended to bolster fuel supply.
The transition to a new government now puts the focus on a parliament that has long frustrated the island nation of 22 million people, with lawmakers and political parties dealing with protracted and disorderly fights over positions of power. Complicating matters, the ruling party loyal to the Rajapaksas still holds the majority of seats.
The constitution of Sri Lanka is clear about succession. In the event of the resignation of a President, the Prime Minister shall take up his duties on an interim basis. The proceedings then go to Parliament, where lawmakers vote on a new president among themselves to complete the term. The mandate of Mr. Rajapaksa had two years to finish.
Still, the nation’s political leaders remain unpopular and many are associated with the Rajapaksa family. Protesters have been adamant that a new leader should be appointed who is free from these ties. On Wednesday morning, as protesters processed the president’s departure, it was unclear whether that would be enough to end months of protests.
– Skandha Gunasekara and Mujib Mashal