Sri Lankans in Maldives protest against President Gotabaya's arrival in the Maldives

Sri Lankans in Maldives have held a peaceful protest against the arrival of the country's ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the Maldives.

The embattled President arrived in Maldives in the early hours of Wednesday. Media reports disclosed that President Gotabaya and his wife flew to Malé, on a Sri Lankan Air Force plane , and arrived around 3 am local time.

Sri Lanka's Air Force on Wednesday confirmed Rajapaksa's departure, saying in a statement: quote , "Pursuant to the request of the government and in accordance with the powers vested in a President in the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka air force provided a plane early today to fly the President, his wife and two security officials to the Maldives." unquote

According to media reports the Maldivian air traffic control refused the plane's request to land until an intervention by the Speaker of the Maldivian Parliament and former President Mohamed Nasheed. However, the Maldivian Parliament has disclosed that they have no information regarding the arrival of the embattled President.

We have yet to gain any official comment from a spokesperson for the Parliament Speaker of Maldives. The Maldivian Foreign Ministry is also refraining from commenting on the situation.

Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was seen as a war hero until the recent turmoil began , is now a fugitive in the eyes of many, and Sri Lankans living mainly in the capital city Male came out to protest that he was given refuge in the Maldives. However, with some Maldivians also joining, the Maldives Police Service put a stop to the protest and advised the protestors to leave the area.

Media reports suggest Rajapakse will not stay in Maldives, but will travel-on to a third country .