Never thought President Rajapaksa would flee Lanka, says Sanath Jayasuriya

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya said he never thought President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would flee the country.

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya, in an exclusive interview to India Today, said he did not anticipate President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fleeing the country amid protests over the unprecedented economic crisis.

"I never thought it would happen like this and we thought he would resign and remain in the country. Unfortunately, that did not happen. He left the country early this morning to Maldives," he said.

"Sri Lankans have seen fuel, electricity, gas and health crisis in the last few months. The things people wanted are not there. They have been absorbing all the pressure for a long period and people have come out onto the streets in protest," Jayasuriya said, adding that the protests have remained largely peaceful.

#SriLanka Crisis | 'People held back anger for a long time; Never thought #Gotabaya will flee,' Sanath Jayasuriya (@Sanath07), former SL cricketer.#5iveLive | @rahulkanwal pic.twitter.com/KSKXHRx8Kw

Protesters angry over power blackouts, shortages of basic goods and rising prices have long demanded that Rajapaksa steps down. But in recent days, protesters entered the presidential palace, set the PM's residence on fire and forced President Rajapaksa to flee the country.