Government of Maldives granted diplomatic clearance for Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives has disclosed that the Government of Maldives granted diplomatic clearance for the ousted President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

In a statement published by the Foreign Ministry on late Thursday night, the Ministry stated that the Government of Maldives, at the official request of the Government of Sri Lanka, granted diplomatic clearance for a Sri Lanka Air Force aircraft carrying Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka and spouse, on a transit visit, to land at the Velana International Airport on 13 July 2022.

The embattled President arrived in Maldives in the early hours of Wednesday. Media reports disclosed that President Rajapaksa 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 had said they have no information regarding the arrival of the embattled President.

Rajapaksa departed from Maldives on Thursday afternoon in Saudi airlines flight. President Rajapaksa handed over his letter of resignation after arriving in Singapore, on Thursday night.

The Sri Lankan Parliament will elect his replacement on July 20.

The Rajapaksa family, including former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, has dominated the politics of the country of 22 million for years and most Sri Lankans blame them for current problems.