Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Walks Back Claim President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Has Left Country

Previously, local media reported that president Rajapaksa fled the country, as mass demonstrations against his government hit Colombo, and the protesters strormed his residence.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has taken refuge in an undisclosed location, will return on Wednesday in order to step down from his office, reports said, citing parliament speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Initially, he reportedly told BBC that the president has left the country, but later walked back the statement, saying in a phone call with ANI it was a mistake.

President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa is still in the country, I made a mistake in the (BBC) interview: Speaker of Sri Lanka’s Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena confirms to ANI in a telephone call https://t.co/Czpl9kY7eg

— ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2022

President Rajapaksa has yet to make an official statement himself, addressing the latest developments in the country.

Thousands hit the streets of the island nation last weekend, protesting against the president and the government's policies, as Sri Lanka is suffering from the worst economic crisis since it gained independence in 1948.

Protestors participate in an anti-government demonstration outside the President's office in Colombo on July 9, 2022.

© AFP 2023 / -

During the protests, the crowd stormed the presidential residence in Colombo, and seized control over the building. While Rajapaksa escaped, reports suggest that he agreed to resign later this week. At the same time, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he is ready to step down, and leaders of Sri Lankan parties agreed to form a unity government.

The elections are reportedly scheduled for 2023, and in the meantime, parliament speaker Abeiwardana had been assigned to become the country's interim leader.

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