Sri Lankan ruling party urges Ranil Wickremesinghe to facilitate return of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa

The SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said the request was made at a meeting held with President Wickremesinghe on August 18.

The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party has asked President Ranil Wickremesinghe to facilitate the safety of his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa so that he can return to the crisis-hit island nation.

The SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam told reporters that the request was made at a meeting held with President Wickremesinghe on August 18, amid reports that Mr. Rajapaksa, who fled the country last month following unprecedented anti-government protests, may return to Sri Lanka next week.

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Mr. Rajapaksa, 73, fled the country on July 13 after tens of thousands of people stormed into his official residence on July 9. “We asked the President to facilitate his return and ensure security and necessary facilities,” Mr. Kariyawasam said.

The Sri Lanka's Constitution allows privileges to former Presidents, including personal security and an office with staff. Having gone to the Maldives on a Sri Lanka Airforce plane, the former President proceeded to Singapore from where he sent in his resignation on July 13.

Later, he went to Thailand for temporary accommodation and he is expected to return next week from Thailand, a cousin announced on Wednesday.

According to a media report on Thursday, Mr. Rajapaksa may apply for a U. S. Green Card as he was eligible to apply due to his wife Loma Rajapaksa being a U. S. citizen. In 2019, Mr. Rajapaksa renounced his U. S. citizenship to contest the 2019 Presidential polls.